Most people think that paper money’s value remains the same no matter which U.S. president’s portrait is on it. However, this is a misconception which most U.S. residents believe in. The U.S. paper money’s value depends on the president’s printed portrait.
The U.S. dollar paper bills with George Washington’s face have different values than those with Thomas Jefferson’s portrait. American paper money generally has portraits of former presidents. However, some U.S. dollar bills don’t contain the president’s portrait, lowering their value.
Thus, U.S. paper bills with the president’s portrait have a higher value in terms of currency. The higher the amount, the more value the American paper note has. The highest amount of paper money with a U.S. president’s portrait is $100. The lowest paper money value with a non-president portrait is $10.
Let’s learn what are the lowest paper money value and whose portraits are in there:
Which U.S. Paper Bill has the Lowest Value?
Two United States paper bills have no portraits of the former presidents. One has Alexander Hamilton’s picture, who was never the U.S. president. However, he was close to George Washington, the country’s first president. Alexander Hamilton’s picture is on the $10 U.S. paper bill.
The Treasury Department’s secretary didn’t specify any reason for the low American money value. However, it can be assumed that the low value is because he was never a president. He was not a U.S. resident or a British native. Alexander Hamilton’s face is printed on the U.S. notes’ left.
On the other hand, the 100 United States dollar bill has Benjamin Franklin’s portrait. Many think that he was the former president of the United States. Though he was never a president, he had a huge impact on building the nation.
Why does the U.S. paper money with the Benjamin Franklin portrait have a higher value than the other non-president paper bills? It is because of the influence or domination he has in America. Besides, Benjamin Franklin is considered the founding father of the country.
Interesting Facts You Must Know about the 10 United States Dollar Bill
Alexander Hamilton was the first non-president who supported the dollar bill application in currency form. He also agreed with the declaration of coins listed in smaller amounts. Paying the individuals will be much easier with coins than other transaction methods.
Here are the interesting facts about the 10 US dollar bills that feature Alexander Hamilton:
- John Trumbull drew Hamilton’s portrait for the $10 bill.
- Alexander Hamilton a major American money investor.
- The $10 note has a green treasury seal next to Hamilton’s portrait.
- This American paper money has Alexander Hamilton’s face on the note.
- This dollar bill features a black Federal Reserve System deal to the non-president portraits’ left.
- A unique 11-digit serial number with letters appears in the nite’s front twice.
- The note has a green 10 number printed to distinguish the U.S. bill denomination.
- Hamilton is the only non-president with the portrait on the United dollar bills.
Who Decides the Portraits on the United States Dollar Bills?
Only some people know who decided the portraits on American money. The Treasury Department’s secretary determines whose face will be on the dollar bills. He only has the authority to make this decision in the country.
However, the Treasury Department didn’t reveal the criteria they chose for the portraits. They only stated that the known American personalities Americans have their face on paper money’s faces. If we consider this fact, every individual in America knows about the former presidents or the ruling parties.
Moreover, the Treasury Department secretary doesn’t put the living person’s face on the money. Federal Law prohibited them from doing so. So, you will find former presidents’ or non-presidents’ faces on all the US dollar bills.
Does the United States Bill with a Non-President Portrait?
One discontinued U.S. paper bill had a non-president’s portrait in the past. The non-president’s face was on the 10.000 dollar bill, discontinued in 1969. Whose face was on the United States paper money? It was Salmon P. Chase, a famous political figure in the 19th century.
Chase was never a president; rather, he was the U.S. Treasury Department’s secretary during the 16th president’s rule. The paper bills with Chase portrait were the highest dollar value that was ever issued or circulated.
List of Presidents Who Have Portraits in the U.S. Money:
You will find the portraits of the United States presidents in all paper money, except for the $100 and $10 bills. Besides, all the presidents’ portraits are on the paper bill’s right. George Washington, the first American President’s face, is on the 1 U.S. dollar bill.
You must have heard about Thomas Jefferson, right? He was one of the American founding fathers and ruled the country from 1801-1809. The third American president’s picture is on the 2 dollar bill.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president, also had a portrait on the American currency. The Federal Reserve Note currently issues his face on the 5 United States dollar bill’s front. The Lincoln Memorial picture is in the U.S. notes’ back.
The seventh United States president’s picture is on the 20 dollar bills. Andrew Jackson was a great lawyer, statesman, planter and national hero. He is widely known for defeating the British at New Orleans in the 18th century. The $20 note features Andrew Jackson’s face at the front and White House’s picture on the back.
Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th United States president, has a portrait on a $50 note. He was a popular politician and American military officer in the 18th century. He was the U.S. president for 8 years (1869-1877). In the 50 United States dollar bill, Ulysses S. Grant’s picture is on the front, and the United States Capitol’s picture is at the back.
Is the Treasury Department Planning to Redesign the United States Dollar Bills?
The Treasury Department has yet to plan to redesign the paper money. However, they had decided to change the design of the $5, $10, and $20 bills. The Treasury Department’s secretary planned to include Jarriert Tubman’s portrait in the dollar bills.
Do you have the $1 silver certificate? You might have seen Martha Washington’s face there, and she was the first lady whose portrait was featured in the late 1800s. Moreover, the Treasury Department kept Abraham Lincoln and Alexander Hamilton’s faces on $5 and $10 notes.
Donald Trump’s election in 2016 halted these paper money redesign plans. Trump opposed this idea, stating he didn’t want to change the portraits on the bills before his election. The Republican president’s administration also didn’t like swapping the U.S. president’s face with Tubman.
Facts You Must Know About the United States Paper Money
Over 97% of the U.S. currencies are circulated by the Federal Reserve. Most paper money is made of two materials – linen and cotton. Dollar bills contain around 25% linen and 75% of cotton.
Andrew Jackson, who was featured in the $20 U.S. bill, chose silver and gold coins over paper money. Around 33% of 100 U.S. dollar bills are printed outside America. One can fold the American notes 8,000 times, 20 times more than a standard-size paper.
