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US Presidents Who Appear on American Money
Since the first US bank notes were printed, in 1862 to raise funds for the Civil War, they've been graced by the faces of presidents. The early days of paper money saw a variety of now-defunct notes, including Silver Certificates, Federal Reserve Bank Notes, Interest Bearing Notes, and Fractional Currency - notes issued in lieu of coins during the Civil War. Almost all of these had an American president on them, though they weren't always consistent from printing to printing.
Despite the many different types of currency the US has issued, the main type of paper currency has always been consistent - from 1862 to 1971 it was the United States Note, and since then, the Federal Reserve Note. These bills, and the coins that go with them, usually feature presidents, though several bills of note do not. Larger, now-discontinued bills have also featured presidents. Every sitting president either has or will be featured on Presidential One Dollar Coins, though these coins aren't being printed for circulation, only for collection.
This list of presidents on money includes all of the presidents that have been featured on US currency, along with several prominent Americans who grace the nation's current bills, but never held the highest office.
Despite the many different types of currency the US has issued, the main type of paper currency has always been consistent - from 1862 to 1971 it was the United States Note, and since then, the Federal Reserve Note. These bills, and the coins that go with them, usually feature presidents, though several bills of note do not. Larger, now-discontinued bills have also featured presidents. Every sitting president either has or will be featured on Presidential One Dollar Coins, though these coins aren't being printed for circulation, only for collection.
This list of presidents on money includes all of the presidents that have been featured on US currency, along with several prominent Americans who grace the nation's current bills, but never held the highest office.
Washington has been on the one dollar bill continuously since 1869, when paper money was known as "United States Notes." Washington was also pictured on a variety of defunct currencies.
Jefferson has appeared on the two dollar bill since its inception as a United States Note in 1869. The bill hasremained in circulation, despite its unpopularity. He has also appeared on the nickel since 2006, and was on some Fractional Currency during the Civil War.
Madison appears on all versions of the $5,000 bill - which is still considered legal tender, despite not having been printed since 1945.
The polarizing and controversial Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928, when he replaced Grover Cleveland. A campaign is underway to replace Jackson with Underground Railroad crusader Harriet Tubman, but it remains to be seen how this will turn out.
Lincoln has graced the five dollar bill since 1914, though various other presidents were on its predecessor notes, including Hamilton, Jackson, and Grant. Lincoln has also been on the penny since 1909. Because of the cost of copper, pennies actually cost almost twice as much to make as they're worth.
Grant has graced the $50 since 1913, though the note has existed in other forms since 1861. The former general also appeared on various gold and silver certificates. Congress has twice introduced legislation to replace Grant on the $50 bill with Ronald Reagan, but the bills were voted down both times.
Cleveland sits on the now-discontinued $1,000 bill, which has been out of print since 1945, and out of circulation since 1969, but is still legal tender. Cleveland also graced the $20 bill, until he was replaced by Andrew Jackson in 1928.
Wilson's face adorned the largest bill ever printed in American history - the $100,000 Gold Certificate. The bill was never released into the circulation; it was only used to transfer money between banks during the Depression.
Roosevelt has been on the dime since 1945. His visage was added shortly after his death as a tribute to his work with the March of Dimes charity.
Dollar coins have never been especially popular in the United States. One attempt at doing so featured President Eisenhower. The Eisenhower dollar was only printed from 1971 through 1978, when it was replaced by the smaller (and equally unpopular) Susan B. Anthony dollar. The coins are still technically legal tender, but function mostly as collectors' items.
The so-called Kennedy half-dollar was first struck in 1964 as a tribute to the late president, with his face replacing Benjamin Franklin. They were made with silver, and snatched up for the value of their metal, but didn't circulate much, due to their size. The silver was removed in 1971, and Kennedy half-dollars were struck until 2002, though a commemorative gold half-dollar was struck in 2014.
All of the Presidents
Time and time again, the US has attempted to introduce one dollar coins to replace one dollar bills. The Eisenhower dollar begat the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which begat the Sacagawea dollar. In 2005, the Senate drafted a bill to commemorate each president with their own one dollar gold coin, in a similar fashion to the popular campaign to commemorate each state with its own quarter. From 2007 through 2011, each president, from Washington through James Garfield, was commemorated with their own specially designed Presidential One Dollar Coin.
But the coin flopped, just like every other attempt at a dollar coin. The general public didn't use them, and businesses actually returned them to the Treasury. The strike number started at over 300 million, but dropped to just 70 million with the Garfield coin. Finally, faced with over one billion coins sitting in storage, and more coming back to them than going out, the Treasury Department suspended the program. The coins are still struck, but in numbers of just 8 million, and only for collectors.
But the coin flopped, just like every other attempt at a dollar coin. The general public didn't use them, and businesses actually returned them to the Treasury. The strike number started at over 300 million, but dropped to just 70 million with the Garfield coin. Finally, faced with over one billion coins sitting in storage, and more coming back to them than going out, the Treasury Department suspended the program. The coins are still struck, but in numbers of just 8 million, and only for collectors.
BONUS: Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin has been featured on the $100 bill since 1914. Previously, $100 notes were graced by various American figures, including President James Monroe, and Admiral David Farragut.
BONUS: Alexander Hamilton
Founding Father and first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton has been on the $10 bill since 1928. In June 2015, it was announced that a woman would appear on the $10 bill to replace Hamilton, and the search is currently underway for who will be pictured on the bill.
BONUS: Salmon P. Chase
Likely the most obscure figure to appear on US legal tender, Salmon P. Chase was Secretary of the Treasury under Abraham Lincoln. To raise funds for the war, Chase masterminded the printing and distribution of the first paper currency - the Demand Note. In honor of this accomplishment, Chase was depicted on the $10,000 bill from 1928 through 1946, when all bills over $100 were discontinued.
