You’ve probably held one today. You might have even tucked it into a birthday card or used it to buy a somewhat overpriced sandwich. But if you actually stop and look at the face staring back at you from that crinkly green paper, you’re looking at Andrew Jackson. He’s been the face of the twenty dollar bill for about a century now, yet most people couldn't tell you why he’s there or what he actually did. Honestly, it’s one of those things we just accept as a fact of life, like gravity or the DMV being slow.
But here is the weird part. Andrew Jackson actually hated paper money. He was a "hard money" guy who thought gold and silver were the only legitimate currencies. There’s a delicious irony in the fact that his face is plastered on the most commonly circulated banknote in the United States. It's almost like a cosmic joke played by the Treasury Department.
The Man Behind the Hair: Andrew Jackson’s Complicated Legacy
Andrew Jackson, our seventh president, wasn't always on the twenty. Before 1928, Grover Cleveland had the spot. Why did they switch? The Treasury hasn't really given a crystal-clear reason, which naturally leads to all sorts of theories. Some say it was to celebrate the centennial of his election. Others think it was just because Jackson was a populist hero at the time.
Jackson was a polarizing figure, to put it mildly. To some, he was "Old Hickory," the tough-as-nails war hero of the Battle of New Orleans who stood up for the "common man" against the elite. To others, his legacy is defined by the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the Trail of Tears. This isn't just a footnote in a history book; it's a massive, painful part of American history that makes his presence on our currency a point of intense debate.
The Harriet Tubman Transition: What’s Actually Happening?
If you’ve been following the news over the last decade, you've definitely heard that Harriet Tubman is supposed to replace Jackson. This isn't just a rumor. In 2016, the Obama administration announced that Tubman—the legendary abolitionist who led dozens of enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad—would become the new face of the twenty.
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It was supposed to happen by 2020 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. But then, things got complicated. Politics happened.
The Trump administration pushed the redesign back, with then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin citing technical reasons and the need to focus on anti-counterfeiting measures first. Then the Biden administration revived it. So, where are we now? Basically, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is working on it, but you won't see a "Tubman Twenty" in your ATM for a while. These things take an eternity. They have to worry about security threads, 3D security ribbons, and making sure the bill is accessible for people with visual impairments. Current estimates suggest we might see the new design around 2030.
Why the Twenty Dollar Bill is the "Goldilocks" of Currency
The twenty is the workhorse of the American economy. It’s not too big, like a hundred, which makes cashiers look at you like you’re trying to pass a forged treaty. It’s not too small, like a five, which barely buys a gallon of milk these days. It’s just right.
Because it’s so popular, it’s also a prime target for counterfeiters. This is why the design changes every few years, even if the face stays the same. Have you noticed the subtle "20" printed in color-shifting ink? Or the tiny yellow "20s" scattered in the background like constellations? That’s the "EURion constellation," a pattern that tells photocopiers and scanners, "Hey, don't copy this, it's illegal."
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- The first $20 notes were issued by the government in 1861.
- Jackson didn't appear on the bill until 1928.
- Before Jackson, the bill featured figures like Alexander Hamilton (who moved to the $10) and George Washington.
- The back of the bill shows the White House, but did you know it features the North Portico?
Security Features You Can Check Right Now
If you have a twenty in your pocket, pull it out. Hold it up to the light. You should see a faint ghost of Andrew Jackson in the blank space to the right of the portrait. That’s a watermark. If it’s not there, or if it looks like a cartoon, you might have a problem.
There’s also a thin vertical strip—a security thread—that runs down the left side. It’s embedded in the paper, not printed on it. If you use a UV light, that little strip glows green. It’s actually pretty cool to see. These features are why it takes nearly fifteen years to redesign a bill. You can't just swap a picture in Photoshop and hit print. The complexity is staggering.
The Politics of Pockets
Money is more than just a medium of exchange; it’s a reflection of a country’s values. That’s why who is on the twenty dollar bill matters so much to people. Changing a face on a bill isn't just an aesthetic choice; it's a statement about whose history we value.
The push for Tubman represents a desire to acknowledge a broader, more inclusive version of American heroism. It’s about moving from a figure associated with expansion and conflict to one associated with freedom and sacrifice. But for others, Jackson represents a specific era of American grit and the rise of the common voter.
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What to Do With This Information
If you're a collector, or just someone who likes to keep an eye on history, keep a crisp Andrew Jackson twenty from a recent series. Once the Tubman bills eventually enter circulation, the Jackson bills will slowly be phased out. They won't become "rare" overnight—there are billions of them—but they will eventually become a relic of a specific era in American currency.
Pay attention to the release of "Specimen" images from the Treasury. When a new design is finalized, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing usually releases high-resolution previews to help the public (and businesses) prepare for the change.
Keep an eye on the "Series" date on your bills. It doesn't tell you when the bill was printed, but rather when the design was approved or when a new Secretary of the Treasury took office. It’s a tiny bit of detective work you can do every time you get change back at the grocery store.
Actionable Steps for the Curious:
- Check your wallet: Look for the security thread and the color-shifting ink on your current twenties to learn how to spot a real one.
- Follow the BEP: Check the Bureau of Engraving and Printing website annually for updates on the "NextGen" currency program.
- Visit the Smithsonian: If you're ever in D.C., the National Numismatic Collection has examples of every $20 bill ever made, including some beautiful ones from the 1800s that look like literal works of art.
The twenty dollar bill is changing, but it’s a slow-motion transformation. For now, Jackson stays. But the clock is ticking on his century-long run.