Ever looked at the crumpled five-dollar bill in your pocket and wondered why Lincoln looks so perpetually tired? Or why a guy who was never even president—Alexander Hamilton—is staring back at you from the ten? It’s kinda weird when you think about it. We use US money and presidents as a shorthand for value, but the history behind whose face gets printed on that cotton-linen blend is less about "participation trophies" for every leader and more about a very specific, bureaucratic selection process that hasn't changed much in a century.
Basically, there’s no law saying a president must be on our currency. It just sort of became the vibe.
The Big Names on Small Bills
George Washington is the obvious one. He's been on the $1 bill since 1923, which honestly makes sense because he’s the "father of the country" and all that. But the $1 bill is actually the most common note in circulation. It stays in your wallet for maybe 18 months before it’s too gross to use and gets shredded by the Federal Reserve.
Then you’ve got Thomas Jefferson on the $2 bill. Most people think the $2 bill is rare or "lucky." It's not. You can literally walk into almost any bank and ask for a stack of them. They’re just not used much because there isn't a dedicated slot for them in most cash registers, which makes them a bit of a nuisance for bartenders and cashiers. The back of the $2 bill is actually really cool, though. It features a depiction of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, based on the painting by John Trumbull.
Why Some Non-Presidents Made the Cut
This is where it gets interesting. If you’re looking at US money and presidents, you’ll notice two glaring exceptions on our most common bills: Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin.
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Hamilton is on the $10. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury, which is basically the ultimate "home field advantage." He literally set up the system we still use. A few years ago, there was a massive push to replace him with a woman—specifically Harriet Tubman—but then a little Broadway musical called Hamilton became a global phenomenon. Suddenly, Alexander was too popular to fire.
And then there's Ben Franklin on the $100. The "C-note." Franklin was never president, but he was a diplomat, an inventor, and probably the most famous American in the world during the 1700s. The $100 bill is the largest denomination currently printed for the public. It’s also the most counterfeited bill outside of the United States, which is why it has all those fancy 3D security ribbons and color-shifting ink that makes it look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
The Drama of the Twenty Dollar Bill
Andrew Jackson is on the $20. This is probably the most controversial piece of US money and presidents history right now. Jackson famously hated paper money and the national bank. He actually worked to dismantle the Second Bank of the United States. So, putting his face on a piece of paper money is either a weird tribute or a very long-running historical prank.
There has been a lot of talk about moving Harriet Tubman to the $20 bill. The Treasury Department under the Obama administration announced the change, the Trump administration delayed it, and the Biden administration restarted the process. It's a slow burn. Changing a bill isn't just about clicking "print" on a new image; it involves complex anti-counterfeiting measures that take years to develop.
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The High-Stakes Bills You’ll Never See
Back in the day, we had much bigger bills. We’re talking $500, $1,000, $5,000, and even $10,000.
- William McKinley was on the $500.
- Grover Cleveland was on the $1,000.
- James Madison sat on the $5,000.
- Salmon P. Chase—who was the Treasury Secretary under Lincoln—was on the $10,000.
There was even a $100,000 gold certificate with Woodrow Wilson on it. These weren't for buying groceries. They were used for huge transfers between banks before the internet made moving money instant. In 1969, the Fed officially stopped issuing these high-denomination notes because they were mostly being used by organized crime for money laundering. If you find one in your attic today, it's still legal tender, but it's worth way more to a collector than its face value.
How the Faces Actually Get Picked
There is a group called the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), but for paper money, the Secretary of the Treasury has the final word. The only hard rule? You have to be dead. Federal law (specifically 31 U.S. Code § 5114) prohibits the portrait of any living person from appearing on US bonds, notes, or coins.
This was a big deal to the Founding Fathers. They didn't want our money to look like British money, which always featured the current King or Queen. They wanted to honor history, not flatter current politicians.
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The Weird World of Coins
Coins are a whole different beast. Abraham Lincoln is on the penny (and the $5 bill), and he’s facing right, while all the other presidents on coins face left. Why? Nobody knows for sure. It was just the artist Victor David Brenner’s preference back in 1909.
- FDR is on the dime because of his work with the March of Dimes.
- JFK was put on the half-dollar almost immediately after his assassination.
- Sacagawea and Susan B. Anthony have both had turns on the dollar coin, though neither really took off in everyday commerce.
People just seem to prefer paper. Or, honestly, tapping their phones.
What You Should Do Next
If you're interested in the intersection of US money and presidents, don't just take my word for it. There are a few ways to actually see this history in person or manage what you have:
- Check your serial numbers: Some people collect "fancy" serial numbers (like 12345678). These can be worth hundreds of dollars to the right buyer.
- Visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing: If you’re ever in D.C. or Fort Worth, you can take a tour and see millions of dollars being printed right in front of you. It's wild.
- Look for "Star Notes": Look at the serial number on your bills. If there is a little star at the end of it, that means it’s a replacement bill for one that was damaged during printing. Collectors love these.
- Appraise old coins: If you have silver quarters or dimes (anything dated 1964 or earlier), they are 90% silver. Their "melt value" is significantly higher than their face value.
The faces on our money tell a story about who we think is important. Whether it's Grant on the $50 or Franklin on the $100, these choices aren't accidental. They're a mix of tradition, political lobbying, and sometimes, just a really popular Broadway show.
Actionable Insight: Next time you get cash back, take five seconds to look at the date and the signatures on the bill. You aren't just holding currency; you're holding a piece of federally mandated art that reflects nearly 250 years of American political ego and economic necessity. If you find a bill with a "star" in the serial number, set it aside—it might be worth more than the number in the corner.