You’ve probably pulled a twenty out of an ATM a thousand times without really looking at it. It’s the workhorse of the American wallet. But the guy staring back at you—Andrew Jackson—has become one of the most debated figures in the history of U.S. currency.
He wasn't always a controversial choice. For decades, he was just "the guy on the twenty." Lately, though, the question of the face on the 20 dollar bill has turned into a massive political and cultural tug-of-war. If you've heard rumors that he’s being replaced by Harriet Tubman, you aren’t imagining things. It’s been "happening" since 2016. Yet, here we are in 2026, and Jackson is still firmly planted on the front of the note.
Why Andrew Jackson ended up there in the first place
It’s actually a bit of a historical irony. Andrew Jackson famously hated paper money. He was a "hard money" guy who preferred gold and silver, and he actually dismantled the Second Bank of the United States because he thought a central banking system was corrupt and unconstitutional.
So, how did he get the gig?
In 1928, the Department of the Treasury decided to standardize the size of our bills. Before that, money was huge—literally. They called them "horse blankets." When they shrunk the bills down to the size we use today, they shuffled the portraits. Grover Cleveland was actually on the twenty before Jackson. Nobody really knows for sure why the Treasury Department swapped them. Some historians think it was to honor Jackson’s 100th anniversary of being elected president. Others think it was just a random administrative call.
Jackson was a populist. He was the "Old Hickory" hero of the Battle of New Orleans. At the time, he was a symbol of the common man. But as our understanding of history has evolved, his legacy has become... messy. Between the Indian Removal Act and his ownership of enslaved people, a lot of people started asking if he was really the best person to represent American values in the 21st century.
The Harriet Tubman redesign that’s taking forever
Back in 2016, Jack Lew, who was the Treasury Secretary under Obama, made a massive announcement. He said Harriet Tubman would replace Jackson on the front of the twenty.
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People lost their minds. Some loved it; some hated it.
Tubman is a powerhouse of a historical figure. She escaped slavery and then went back—over and over—to lead dozens of others to freedom via the Underground Railroad. She was a scout, a spy, and a nurse for the Union Army. Honestly, her life story reads like a high-stakes action movie. Putting her on the face on the 20 dollar bill would make her the first woman on the front of a federal banknote in over a century (Martha Washington had a brief stint on a Silver Certificate in the late 1800s).
Then things got complicated.
When the administration changed in 2017, the project slowed to a crawl. Steven Mnuchin, the next Treasury Secretary, said the focus was on security features to prevent counterfeiting, not changing the portraits. He pushed the timeline way back. Then, under the Biden administration, Janet Yellen picked the project back up, saying they wanted to speed it up.
But "speeding it up" in government terms is like watching grass grow.
Why can't they just print the new bills now?
You’d think you just swap the image file and hit "print." It doesn't work like that. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is obsessed with security. The twenty is one of the most frequently counterfeited bills in the world.
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Every time they change a bill, they have to weave in new high-tech features. We're talking about:
- Color-shifting ink that changes from copper to green.
- 3D Security Ribbons that are woven into the paper, not printed on it.
- Microprinting that is so small it looks like a solid line to the naked eye.
- Watermarks that are visible from both sides when held to the light.
The BEP operates on a "sequencing" schedule. They usually update the higher denominations first because they are more valuable to counterfeiters. The $10 and $50 are actually ahead of the $20 in the redesign queue. Current estimates suggest we won't see a Tubman twenty in circulation until roughly 2030, though the final design might be unveiled sooner.
The "Jackson on the back" compromise
One thing people often miss is that Jackson might not disappear entirely. One proposed plan involves moving Jackson to the back of the bill, perhaps alongside an image of the White House. This sort of "split" design happens more often than you'd think in numismatics.
The $5 bill, for example, has Lincoln on the front but features various civil rights figures and events on the back in some proposed concepts.
However, the "Tubman on the front" plan remains the official goal. It’s a symbolic shift. The front of the bill is where the power is.
Spotting a fake 20 dollar bill right now
Since we’re stuck with Jackson for a while longer, you should probably know how to tell if the one in your pocket is real. Counterfeiters have gotten really good, but they usually fail on the "feel."
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Genuine U.S. currency uses a specific blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. It’s not actually paper; it’s fabric. If you run your fingernail over Jackson’s shoulder, you should feel raised printing. It’s a distinct texture that most home printers can't replicate.
Also, look at the serial numbers. On a real bill, the serial number’s ink matches the color of the Treasury Seal exactly. If the shades are off, even a little, the bill is probably a "supernote" or a high-end fake.
What’s next for your wallet?
We are currently in a weird limbo period. The Treasury is working on the "NextGen" currency series. This isn't just about faces; it's about making money accessible for the blind and visually impaired by adding tactile features—basically, Braille-like bumps so people can feel if they’re holding a five or a twenty.
If you’re a collector, keep an eye out for "star notes." If you see a little star at the end of the serial number on your $20 bill, it means that bill was a replacement for a sheet that was damaged during printing. They aren't worth a fortune yet, but as the Jackson design eventually gets phased out, crisp, uncirculated star notes will definitely become more valuable to collectors.
Actionable Steps for the Curious:
- Check your serials: Look for "fancy" serial numbers (like 12345678 or 00000001) on your twenties. These can sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay, far exceeding their face value.
- Verify your cash: Use the "tilt" test. On a real $20, the numeral "20" in the lower right corner shifts from copper to green. If it doesn't move, it's a fake.
- Follow the BEP: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a dedicated site (uscurrency.gov) where they post the official timelines for the Tubman transition. Don't believe every TikTok "breaking news" video you see about the new bill; check the official source.
- Save a crisp one: If you have a brand new, uncreased Jackson twenty, put it in a protective sleeve. Once the Tubman bills finally hit the streets, the "old" Jacksons will slowly be pulled from circulation and destroyed, making mint-condition versions a piece of history.
The face on the 20 dollar bill is more than just a portrait. It’s a reflection of who the country thinks is worth honoring at a specific moment in time. Whether you’re Team Jackson or Team Tubman, the money is changing—just don't expect it to happen overnight.