List of people on United States banknotes

Last updated

Individual portraits of 53 people central to the history of the United States are depicted on the country's banknotes [1] [nb 1] including presidents, cabinet members, members of Congress, Founding Fathers, jurists, and military leaders. The Secretary of the Treasury was given broad latitude by Congress in 1862 to supervise the design, printing, and issue of banknotes. [nb 2] [4] The Secretary, with input from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, has final approval over the design of banknotes. [nb 3]

Contents

The redesign of U.S. banknotes in 1922 prompted the Treasury Department to review the portraits on banknotes and conclude that "portraits of Presidents of the United States have a more permanent familiarity in the minds of the public than any others." [6] Exceptions were made for Alexander Hamilton, Salmon Chase, and Benjamin Franklin. There have been no changes in the people depicted on currency intended for the general public since 1928; when Woodrow Wilson was depicted on the 1934 $100,000 gold certificate, the note was only for internal Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank use.

Six people have been depicted on U.S. currency during their lifetime, with each of those depictions occurring during the American Civil War. Abraham Lincoln was portrayed on the 1861 $10 Demand Note; Salmon Chase, Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury, approved his own portrait for the 1862 $1 Legal Tender Note; Winfield Scott was depicted on Interest Bearing Notes during the early 1860s; William P. Fessenden (U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Treasury) appeared on fractional currency, as did Francis Spinner and Spencer Clark who both approved the use of their own image on fractional currency. In 1873, driven in large part by the actions of Spinner and Clark, Congress prohibited the use of portraits of living people on any U.S. bond, security, note, or fractional or postal currency. [7]

Key to banknote type abbreviations

Many of the 53 individuals were depicted on more than one note of a series or denomination. In the description of the banknotes, the date in parentheses indicates the individual's first appearance on a given note type and denomination. When multiple banknotes are listed, the order, though seeming random, is in accordance with the Friedberg Number, [1] in ascending Friedberg order. [nb 4] [nb 5] The engraved portraits are from a virtual exhibit of bank notes [9] which are part of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.

Key to banknote type abbreviations
AbbrNote typeNote size
DN Demand Note Large
LT Legal Tender Large
CITN Compound Interest Treasury Note Exception
IBN Interest Bearing Note Exception
RC Refunding Certificate Exception
SC Silver Certificate Large
TN Treasury Note Large
NBN National Bank Note Large
FRBN Federal Reserve Bank Note Large
FRN Federal Reserve Note Large
GC Gold Certificate Large
SSNSmall Size BanknoteSmall

People depicted

Each of the 53 individuals depicted on U.S. banknotes (not including fractional currency) is listed alphabetically with their most commonly associated titles, positions held, or affiliations (with dates). Elected and appointed government positions are fairly comprehensive and positions are presented in ascending chronological order.

People on United States banknotes
NameBornDiedPortrait [nb 6] Title/commentsU.S. Banknote(s) [10] IAD [11]
John Quincy Adams [12] 11 Jul 176723 Feb 1848
US-$500-LT-1869-Fr-184.jpg
U.S. Minister to the Netherlands (1794–97), Prussia (1797–1801); State Senate (Massachusetts, 1802); U.S. Senate (Massachusetts, 1803–08); U.S. Minister to Russia (1809–14), Great Britain (1815–17); U.S. Secretary of State (1817–25); President of the United States (1825–29); U.S. House (Massachusetts, 1831–48). [13] LT $500 (1869)1869
Thomas Hart Benton [14] 14 Mar 178210 Apr 1858
US-$100-GC-1882-Fr.1207.jpg
U.S. Senate (Missouri, 1821–51); U.S. House (Missouri, 1853–55).GC $100 (1870)1870
Salmon Portland Chase [15] 13 Jan 18087 May 1873
US-$1-LT-1862-Fr-16c.jpg
U.S. Senate (Ohio, 1849–55 & 1861); Governor (Ohio, 1856–60); U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1861–64); Chief Justice of the United States (1864–73).

LT $1 (1862)
CITN $10 (1863)
IBN $10 (1864)
IBN $1,000 (1861)
FRN $10,000 (1918)
SSN $10,000 (1928–34)

1861
William Clark 1 Aug 17701 Sep 1838
US-$10-LT-1901-Fr.114.jpg
Explorer
Captain, U.S. Army (1789–96); Superintendent of Indian Affairs (1807–13 & 1822–38); [16] Governor, Missouri Territory (1813–20). [17]

LT $10 (1901)

1901
Henry Clay [18] 12 Apr 177729 Jun 1852
US-$50-LT-1869-Fr-151.jpg
State House (Kentucky, 1803); U.S. Senate (Kentucky, 1806–07 & 1810–11); Speaker of the House (1811–14, 1815–20, 1823–25); U.S. Secretary of State (1825–29); U.S. Senate (Kentucky, 1831–43 & 1849–52). [19]

LT $50 (1869)

1869
Grover Cleveland [20] 18 Mar 183724 Jun 1908
US-$20-FRBN-1915-Fr.828.jpg
Governor (New York, 1883–85); President of the United States (1885–89, 1893–97).

FRBN $20 (1915)
FRN $20 (1914)
SSN $1,000 (1928–34)

1914
DeWitt Clinton [21] 2 Mar 176911 Feb 1828
US-$1000-LT-1880-Fr-187k.jpg
State House (New York, 1797–98); State Senate, (New York, 1798–1802 & 1805–11); U.S. Senate (New York, 1802–03); Mayor, New York City (1803–07, 1808-1810 & 1811-15); Lieutenant Governor (New York, 1811–13); Candidate for President (1812); Governor (New York, 1817–23, 1825–28). [22]

LT $1,000 (1869)

1869
Stephen Decatur [23] 5 Jan 177922 Mar 1820
US-$20-SC-1880-Fr.311.jpg
Commodore, U.S. Navy; Quasi-War, First Barbary War; Awarded Congressional Gold Medal (1813).

SC $20 (1878)

1878
Edward Everett [24] 11 Apr 179415 Jan 1865
US-$50-SC-1891-Fr.331.jpg
U.S. House (Massachusetts, 1825–35); Governor (Massachusetts, 1836–40); U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1841–45); U.S. Secretary of State (1852–53); U.S. Senate (Massachusetts, 1853–54).

SC $50 (1878)

1878
David Glasgow Farragut [25] 5 Jul 180114 Aug 1870
US-$100-TN-1891-Fr-378.jpg
Admiral, Commander-in-Chief (1861–70), [26] U.S. Navy (1810–1868); War of 1812, West Indies, American Civil War; Received Thanks of Congress (1862 [26] & 1866). [26]

TN $100 (1890)

1890
William Pitt Fessenden [27] 16 Oct 18068 Sep 1869 William Pitt Fessenden (Engraved Portrait).jpg State House (Maine, 1832, 1840, 1845–46, 1853–54); U.S. House (Maine, 1841–43); U.S. Senate (Maine, 1854–64); U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1864–65). [28]

NBN $20 (1882, reverse)

1882 [29]
Benjamin Franklin [30] 17 Jan 170617 Apr 1790
US-$50-LT-1880-Fr.164.jpg
Founder; Delegate, Pennsylvania, Continental Congress; U.S. Postmaster General (1775, Inaugural Holder); Signer, Declaration of Independence (1776); U.S. Minister to France (1778–85), Sweden (1782–83); President of Pennsylvania and Delegate to the Constitutional convention (1785–88); Delegate, Pennsylvania, U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787).

LT $50 (1874)
RC $10 (1879)
FRN $100 (1914)
SSN $100 (1928–present)

1874
Robert Fulton [31] 14 Nov 176524 Feb 1815
US-$2-SC-1896-Fr.247.jpg
Engineer; Inventor

SC $2 (1896, reverse)

1896
Albert Gallatin [32] 29 Jan 176112 Aug 1849
US-$500-LT-1863-Fr-183c.jpg
State House (Pennsylvania, 1790–92); U.S. Senate (Pennsylvania, 1793–94); U.S. House (Pennsylvania, 1795–1801); U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1801–14); U.S. Minister to France (1815–23), Great Britain (1826–27). [33]

LT $500 (1862)

1862
James Abram Garfield [34] 19 Nov 183119 Sep 1881
US-$20-GC-1882-Fr-1177.jpg
State Senate, (Ohio, 1859–61); [35] Major General, U.S. Army, (1861–63); [36] U.S. House (Ohio, 1863–81); President of the United States (1881). Shot by Charles J. Guiteau on 2 July 1881. [37]

NBN $5 (1882)
GC $20 (1882)

1882
Ulysses S. Grant [38] 27 Apr 182223 Jul 1885
US-$5-SC-1886-Fr.264.jpg
Commanding General (1864–69), U.S. Army (1843–54, 1861–69 & 1877–85); U.S. Secretary of War, (Interim, 12 August 1867 – 12 January 1868); [39] President of the United States (1869–77)
Mexican–American War, American Civil War; Received Thanks of Congress (1863) and awarded The Congressional Gold Medal(1863). [40]

SC $1 (1899)
SC $5 (1886), (1896, reverse)
FRBN $50 (1918)
FRN $50 (1914)
GC $50 (1913)
SSN $50 (1928–present)

1886
Alexander Hamilton [41] 11 Jan 175712 Jul 1804
US-$20-LT-1880-Fr-145.jpg
Founder; Lieutenant Colonel, Continental Army (1775–); Continental Congress (1782–83); State House (New York, 1787); U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1789–1795); Major General, Senior Officer, U.S. Army (1799–1800). [42]

DN $5 (1861)
LT $2 (1862)
LT $5 (1862)
LT $20 (1869)
LT $50 (1862)
CITN $50 (1863)
IBN $50 (1864)
IBN $500 (1864)
FRN $1,000 (1918)
GC $1,000 (1870)
SSN $10 (1928–present)

1861
Winfield Scott Hancock [43] 14 Feb 18249 Feb 1886
US-$2-SC-1886-Fr.242.jpg
Major General (1866–1886), U.S. Army (1844–1886); Mexican–American War, American Civil War. Received Thanks of Congress (1866); [44] Candidate for President (1880).

SC $2 (1886)

1886
Benjamin Harrison [45] 20 Aug 183313 Mar 1901 Benjamin Harrison (Engraved Portrait).jpg Brigadier General, U.S. Army (1862–65); [46] U.S. Senate (Indiana, 1881–87); President of the United States (1889–93).

NBN $5 (1902)

1902
Thomas Andrews Hendricks [47] 7 Sep 181925 Nov 1885
US-$10-SC-1891-FR-298.jpg
State House (Indiana, 1848–49); U.S. House (Indiana, 1851–55); Assistant Treasurer of the United States (1853); U.S. Senate (Indiana, 1863–69); Governor (Indiana, 1873–77); Vice President of the United States (1885, Died in Office). [48]

SC $10 (1886)

1886
Michael Hillegas [49] 22 Apr 172929 Sep 1804
US-$10-GC-1907-Fr-1172.jpg
Provincial Assembly (Pennsylvania, 1765–75); Treasurer of the United States (1775–89, Inaugural Holder).

GC $10 (1907)

1907
Andrew Jackson [50] 15 Mar 17678 Jun 1845
US-$5-LT-1880-Fr-72.jpg
U.S. House (Tennessee, 1796–97); U.S. Senate (Tennessee, 1797–98); Judge, Tennessee Supreme Court (1798–1804); Major General, U.S. Army, Awarded Congressional Gold Medal(1815); Military Governor of Florida (10 March 1821 – 18 July 1821); U.S. Senate (Tennessee, 1823–25); President of the United States (1829–37). An assassination attempt (the first on a U.S. President) was made by Richard Lawrence on 30 January 1835 outside the Capitol building. [51]

LT $5 (1869)
LT $10,000 (1878)
IBN $50 [Two-Year] (1861)
FRBN $10 (1915)
FRN $10 (1914)
GC $10,000 (1870)
SSN $20 (1928–present)

1861
Thomas Jefferson [52] 13 Apr 17434 Jul 1826
US-$2-LT-1880-Fr-52.jpg
Founder; House of Burgesses (Virginia, 1769); Delegate, Virginia Continental Congress (1775–76 & 1783–84); Signer, Declaration of Independence (1776); Governor (Virginia, 1779–81); U.S. Minister to France (1785–1789); U.S. Secretary of State (1790–1793, Inaugural Holder ); Candidate for President (1796); Vice President of the United States (1797–1801); President of the United States (1801–1809).

LT $2 (1869)
FRBN $2 (1918)
SSN $2 (1928–present)

1869
John Jay Knox, Jr. [53] 19 Mar 182812 Feb 1892 John Jay Knox (Engraved Portrait).jpg Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury (1872–84). [54]

NBN $100 (1902)

1902
Meriwether Lewis [55] 18 Aug 177411 Oct 1809
US-$10-LT-1901-Fr.114.jpg
Explorer; Governor, Louisiana/Missouri Territory (1807–09). [56]

LT $10 (1901)

1901
Abraham Lincoln [57] 12 Feb 180915 Apr 1865
US-$100-LT-1880-Fr-181.jpg
State House (Illinois, 1834–41); U.S. House (Illinois, 1847–49); President of the United States (1861–65). [58] Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on 15 April 1865. [59]

DN $1 (1861)
LT $10 (1862)
LT $100 (1869)
CITN $20 (1863)
IBN $20 (1864)
SC $1 (1899)
SC $5 (1923)
FRBN $5 (1915)
FRN $5 (1914)
GC $500 (1870)
SSN $5 (1928–present)

1861
James Madison [60] 16 Mar 175128 Jun 1836
US-$5000-GC-1882-Fr-1221a.jpg
Founder; Member, First General Assembly of Virginia (1776); Delegate, Virginia, Continental Congress (1780–83 & 1786–88); Virginia House of Delegates (1783–86); U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787); U.S. House (Virginia, 1789–97); U.S. Secretary of State (1801–09); President of the United States (1809–17).

LT $5,000 (1878)
FRN $5,000 (1918)
GC $5,000 (1870)
SSN $5,000 (1928–34)

1870
Daniel Manning 16 May 183124 Dec 1887
US-$20-SC-1891-Fr-317.jpg
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1885–87)

SC $20 (1886)

1886
Joseph King Fenno Mansfield [61] 22 Dec 180318 Sep 1862
US-$500-LT-1880-Fr-185l.jpg
Major General (1862), U.S. Army (1822–62); Mexican–American War, American Civil War.

LT $500 (1874)

1874
William Learned Marcy [62] 12 Dec 17864 Jul 1857
US-$1000-SC-1891-Fr-346e.jpg
Adjutant General, New York State Militia (1821–23); New York State Comptroller (1823); Judge, New York Supreme Court (1829–31); U.S. Senate (New York, 1831–33); Governor (New York, 1833–39); Commissioner of Mexican Claims (1839–42); U.S. Secretary of War (1845–49); U.S. Secretary of State (1853–57). [63]

SC $1,000 (1878)

1878
John Marshall [64] 24 Sep 17556 Jul 1835
US-$20-TN-1890-Fr-374.jpg
Captain, Continental Army (1776–81); [65] Virginia General Assembly (1782–91, 1797); U.S. Minister to France (1797); U.S. House (Virginia, 1799–1800); U.S. Secretary of State (1800–01); Chief Justice of the United States (1801–35).

TN $20 (1890)
FRN $500 (1918)

1890
Hugh McCulloch [66] 7 Dec 180124 May 1895 Hugh McCulloch (Engraved Portrait).jpg Comptroller of the Currency (1863–65); U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1865–69 & 1884–85).

NBN $20 (1902)

1902
William McKinley, Jr. [67] 29 Jan 184314 Sep 1901
US-$500-GC-1928-Fr-2407.jpg
Major, U.S. Army (1861–65); U.S. House (Ohio, 1877–84 & 1885–91); Governor (Ohio, 1892–96); [68] President of the United States (1897–1901). Shot by Leon Czolgosz on 6 September 1901. [69]

NBN $10 (1902)
SSN $500 (1928–34)

1902
James Birdseye McPherson [70] 14 Nov 182822 Jul 1864
US-$2-TN-1891-Fr-357.jpg
Major General (1862–64), U.S. Army (1853–64), American Civil War; Killed in battle. [71]

TN $2 (1890)

1890
George Gordon Meade [72] 31 Dec 18156 Nov 1872
US-$1000-TN-1891-Fr-379c.jpg
Major General (1862–69), U.S. Army (1835–69); Mexican–American War, American Civil War; Received Thanks of Congress (1864). [73]

TN $1,000 (1890)

1890
James Monroe [74] 28 Apr 17584 Jul 1831
US-$100-SC-1891-Fr.344.jpg
Major, Continental Army (1776–79); Colonel, Virginia State Militia (1780); [75] Continental Congress (1783–1786); State House (Virginia, 1786 & 1810–11); U.S. Senate (Virginia, 1790–1794); U.S. Minister to France (1794–96); Governor (Virginia, 1799–1802 & 1811); U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1803–1807); U.S. Secretary of State (1811–1814 and 1815–1817); U.S. Secretary of War (Interim, 27 August 1814 – 15 March 1815); [76] President of the United States (1817–1825).

SC $100 (1878)

1878
Robert Morris [77] 31 Jan 17348 May 1806
US-$10-SC-1880-Fr-287.jpg
Founder; Delegate, Pennsylvania, Continental Congress (1776); Signer, Declaration of Independence (1776); State House (Pennsylvania, 1778–1781 and 1785–1787); United States Superintendent of Finance (1781–84).

LT $1,000 (1862)
SC $10 (1878)

1862
Samuel Finley Breese Morse [78] 27 Apr 17912 Apr 1872
US-$2-SC-1896-Fr.247.jpg
Inventor, [79] Morse Telegraph; Co-Inventor, Morse Code; Painter. [80]

SC $2 (1896, reverse)

1896
Running Antelope c.1821c.1896
US-$5-SC-1899-Fr.271.jpg
Sioux Chief of the Hunkpapa

SC $5 (1899)

1899
Winfield Scott [81] 13 Jun 178629 May 1866
US-$100-IBN-1865-Fr.212e.jpg
Commanding General (1841–61), U.S. Army (1808–61); War of 1812, Seminole Wars, Black Hawk War, Mexican–American War, American Civil War; Military Governor, Mexico City (1847–48); U.S. Secretary of War (Interim, 24 July 1850 – 15 August 1850); [82] Candidate for President (1852). Awarded Congressional Gold Medal (1814 [83] and 1848). [83]

IBN $500 [Two-Year] (1861)
IBN $100 [Three-Year] (1864)

1861
William Henry Seward [84] 16 May 180116 Oct 1872
US-$50-TN-1891-Fr-376.jpg
State Senate (New York, 1831–34); Governor (New York, 1839–43); U.S. Senate (New York, 1849–61); [85] U.S. Secretary of State (1861–69). An assassination attempt was made by Lewis Powell, a co-conspirator of John Wilkes Booth, the same night President Lincoln was shot (15 April 1865). [86]

TN $50 (1891)

1891
Philip Henry Sheridan [87] 6 Mar 18315 Aug 1888
US-$10-TN-1890-Fr-367.jpg
Commanding General (1883–88), U.S. Army (1853–88); American Civil War, Indian Wars. Received Thanks of Congress (1865). [87]

SC $5 (1896, reverse)
TN $10 (1890)

1890
John Sherman [88] 10 May 182322 Oct 1900 John Sherman (Engraved Portrait).jpg U.S. House (Ohio, 1855–61); U.S. Senate (Ohio, 1861–77 & 1881–97); President pro tem, U.S. Senate (1885–87); [89] U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1877–81); U.S. Secretary of State (1897–98).

NBN $50 (1902)

1902
William Tecumseh Sherman [90] 8 Feb 182014 Feb 1891
US-$500-TN-1891-PROOF.jpg
U.S. Secretary of War (Interim, 9 September 1869 – 18 October 1869); [89] Commanding General (1869–83), U.S. Army (1840–84); American Civil War, Indian Wars. Received Thanks of Congress (1864 [91] & 1865). [91]

TN $500 (1891)

1891 [92]
Edwin McMasters Stanton [93] 19 Dec 181424 Dec 1869
US-$1-TN-1891-Fr-351.jpg
U.S. Attorney General (1860–61); U.S. Secretary of War (1862–68); U.S. Supreme Court (appointed 1869, died before taking office). [93]

TN $1 (1890)

1890
Charles Sumner [94] 6 Jan 181111 Mar 1874
US-$500-SC-1880-Fr-345c.jpg
U.S. Senate (Massachusetts, 1851–74).

SC $500 (1878)

1878
George H. Thomas [95] 31 Jul 181628 Mar 1870
US-$5-TN-1891-Fr.365.jpg
Major General (1864–70), U.S. Army (1840–70); Mexican–American War, American Civil War. Received Thanks of Congress (1865). [96]

TN $5 (1890)

1890
George Washington [97] 22 Feb 173214 Dec 1799
US-$1-SC-1923-Fr-239.jpg
Founder; Virginia House of Burgesses (1758–75); [98] Delegate, VA, Continental Congress (1774–75); Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army (1775–83); [99] Member, U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787); President of the United States (1789–97); Lieutenant General, Commander of the United States Army (1798–99). [100]

LT $1 (1869)
CITN $100 (1863)
IBN $100 (1864)
IBN $1,000 [Two-Year] (1861)
IBN $500 [Three-Year] (1861)
SC $1 (1896, reverse)
SC $1 (1923)
SC $2 (1899)
FRBN $1 (1918)
GC $20 (1905)
SSN $1 (1928–present)

1861
Martha Washington [101] 2 Jun 173122 May 1802
US-$1-SC-1886-Fr-217.jpg
First Lady of the United States (1789–97).

SC $1 (1886)
SC $1 (1896, reverse)

1886
Daniel Webster [102] 18 Jan 178224 Oct 1852 Daniel Webster (Engraved Portrait).jpg

U.S. House (New Hampshire, 1813–17); U.S. House (Massachusetts, 1823–27); U.S. Senate (Massachusetts, 1827–41 & 1845–50); Candidate for President (1836); U.S. Secretary of State (1841–43 & 1850–52). [103]

LT $10 (1869)

1869
Woodrow Wilson [104] 28 Dec 18563 Feb 1924 Woodrow Wilson (Engraved Portrait).jpg Governor (New Jersey, 1911–13); President of the United States (1913–21). Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1919). [105]

SSN $100,000 (1934)

1934
William Windom [106] 10 May 182729 Jan 1891
US-$2-SC-1891-Fr.246.jpg
U.S. House (Minnesota, 1859–69); U.S. Senate (Minnesota, 1870–71, 1871–81 & 1881–83); U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1881, 1889–91). [104]

SC $2 (1891)

1891
Silas Wright, Jr. [107] 24 May 179527 Aug 1847
US-$50-GC-1882-Fr-1195.jpg
U.S. House (New York, 1827–29 & 1829–30); U.S. Senate (New York, 1833–44); Governor (New York, 1845–47).

GC $50 (1882)

1882

Summary of titles/positions

Below is a summary of the titles/positions held, at one time or another, by the 53 individuals depicted on United States banknotes from 1861 to the present. The list of positions is not exhaustive, but does address the central elected federal and state officials, members of the president's cabinet, military figureheads, and several of the founders and framers of the United States government.

Fifty-three people held at least 132 elected and appointed positions for a cumulative total of over 763 years of public service.

Summary of titles/positions held
Position/titleNo. people
President of the United States 13
Vice President 2
Speaker of the House 1
President pro tem 1
Secretary of State 11
Secretary of the Treasury 8
Secretary of War 3
Attorney General 1
United States Senate 20
United States House 17
State Senate 6
State House 11
Governor 15
Delegate, Continental Congress 7
Signer, Declaration of Independence 3
Member, U.S. Constitutional Convention 5
Commanding General 6
Supreme Court 2

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Silver certificates are a type of representative money issued between 1878 and 1964 in the United States as part of its circulation of paper currency. They were produced in response to silver agitation by citizens who were angered by the Fourth Coinage Act, which had effectively placed the United States on a gold standard. The certificates were initially redeemable for their face value of silver dollar coins and later in raw silver bullion. Since 1968 they have been redeemable only in Federal Reserve Notes and are thus obsolete, but still valid legal tender at their face value and thus are still an accepted form of currency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confederate States dollar</span> Currency of the Confederate States of America

The Confederate States dollar was first issued just before the outbreak of the American Civil War by the newly formed Confederacy. It was not backed by hard assets, but simply by a promise to pay the bearer after the war, on the prospect of Southern victory and independence. As the Civil War progressed and victory for the South seemed less and less likely, its value declined. After the Confederacy's defeat, its money had no value, and individuals and banks lost large sums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fractional currency</span> Series of United States dollar banknotes

Fractional currency, also referred to as shinplasters, was introduced by the United States federal government following the outbreak of the Civil War. These low-denomination banknotes of the United States dollar were in use between 21 August 1862 and 15 February 1876, and issued in denominations of 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 cents across five issuing periods. The complete type set below is part of the National Numismatic Collection, housed at the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Russell Thayer</span> American politician (1819–1906)

Martin Russell Thayer was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry D. Washburn</span> 19th-century American military officer and politician

Henry Dana Washburn was a U.S. Representative from Indiana and a colonel and was breveted twice as brigadier general and major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles H. Grosvenor</span> American politician

Charles Henry Grosvenor was a multiple-term U.S. Representative from Ohio, as well as a brigade commander in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph R. Cockerill</span> American politician

Joseph Randolph Cockerill was a U.S. Representative from Ohio for one term from 1857 to 1859.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenback (1860s money)</span> Paper currency issued by the United States during the American Civil War

Greenbacks were emergency paper currency issued by the United States during the American Civil War that were printed in green on the back. They were in two forms: Demand Notes, issued in 1861–1862, and United States Notes, issued in 1862–1865. A form of fiat money, the notes were legal tender for most purposes and carried varying promises of eventual payment in coin but were not backed by existing gold or silver reserves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treasury Note (1890–1891)</span> American currency

The Treasury Note was a type of representative money issued by the United States government from 1890 until 1893 under authority of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $1,000. It was issued in two series: an 1890 series with $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $100 and $1,000 denominations, and an 1891 series that added the $50 denomination. A $500 note was designed but never issued.

In early 18th century Colonial America, engravers began experimenting with copper plates as an alternative medium to wood. Applied to the production of paper currency, copper-plate engraving allowed for greater detail and production during printing. It was the transition to steel engraving that enabled banknote design and printing to rapidly advance in the United States during the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Treasury specimen book</span>

US Treasury Department Specimen books, also known as BEP presentation albums, were published by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) from the mid-1860s through the 1910s. Prepared upon request of the United States Secretary of the Treasury, albums were generally presented to Cabinet members, select Members of Congress, diplomats and visiting dignitaries. Some extant albums still in their original binding bear the name of the recipient impressed in gold lettering on the cover. While no two presentation albums have exactly the same contents, each book usually contained portraits, vignettes, and/or images of buildings. Specimen books which contain whole proof images of currency are extremely rare.

A silver certificate is a certificate of ownership that silver owners hold instead of storing the actual silver. Several countries have issued silver certificates, including Cuba, the Netherlands, and the United States. Silver certificates have also been privately issued by various mints and bullion companies. One example was the Liberty Dollar issued by NORFED from 1998 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States two-dollar bill</span> Current denomination of United States currency

The United States two-dollar bill ($2) is a current denomination of United States currency. A portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States (1801–1809), is featured on the obverse of the note. The reverse features an engraving of John Trumbull's painting Declaration of Independence.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The scope of U.S. banknotes (e.g., 1861 to the present) is based on the parameters established by the Friedberg reference book. [2]
  2. ↑ An Act to Authorize the Issue of United States Notes, and for the Redemption or Funding Thereof, and for Funding the Floating Debt of the United States. Feb 25, 1862 Vol. XII, p.345 (original). [3]
  3. ↑ Placement of an individual on a banknote by an Act of Congress supersedes Treasury Department approval. [5]
  4. ↑ Large size notes represent the earlier types or series of U.S. banknotes. Their "average" dimension is 7.375 x 3.125 inches (187 x 79 mm). Small size notes (described as such due to their size relative to the earlier large size notes) are an "average" 6.125 x 2.625 inches (156 x 67 mm), the size of modern U.S. currency. "Each measurement is +/- 0.08 inches (2mm) to account for margins and cutting". [8]
  5. ↑ Exceptions to the large versus small categories are the CITN, IBN, and RC, all slightly larger than the large size note dimensions.
  6. ↑ Clicking on the majority of the portraits will reveal the entire note.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Friedberg
  2. ↑ Friedberg, Arthur L. & Ira S.
  3. ↑ "Laws of the United States Relating to Loans and the Currency Including the Coinage Acts". Treasury Department, p. 45.
  4. ↑ U.S. Currency, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, archived from the original on 5 May 2015, retrieved 15 March 2013
  5. ↑ Portraits & Designs, U.S. Treasury Website, retrieved 30 December 2012
  6. ↑ U.S. Currency, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, archived from the original on 5 May 2015, retrieved 11 April 2013
  7. ↑ "Laws of the United States Relating to Loans and the Currency Including the Coinage Acts". Treasury Department, p. 128.
  8. ↑ Friedberg, p. 7.
  9. ↑ Portraits on U.S. Bank Notes, The National Currency Foundation, retrieved 25 December 2012
  10. ↑ Treasury Collection Highlights: Part 1, The National Currency Foundation, retrieved 29 December 2012
  11. ↑ IAD (Initial Appearance Date) indicates each individual's earliest appearance on the scope of U.S. banknotes covered by this list.
  12. ↑ Adams, John Quincy, (1767–1848), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  13. ↑ Sobel, p. 6.
  14. ↑ Benton, Thomas Hart, (1782–1858), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  15. ↑ Chase, Salmon Portland, (1808–1873), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  16. ↑ William Clark informs Indian nations that the U.S. has won the war., Wisconsin Historical Society, retrieved 1 January 2013
  17. ↑ Kansas Historical Quarterly - William Clark's Diary, Kansas Historical Society, retrieved 1 January 2013
  18. ↑ Clay, Henry, (1777–1852), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  19. ↑ Sobel, p. 71.
  20. ↑ Sobel, p. 72.
  21. ↑ Clinton, De Witt (1769–1828), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 7 February 2013
  22. ↑ Clinton, DeWitt, (1769–1828), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  23. ↑ The Biography of the Principal American Military and Naval Heroes, Applewood Books, Bedford MA, September 2009, ISBN   9781429021715 , retrieved 30 December 2012
  24. ↑ Everett, Edward, (1794–1865), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  25. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 229.
  26. 1 2 3 Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 230.
  27. ↑ Fessenden, William Pitt, (1806–1869), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  28. ↑ Sobel, p. 124.
  29. ↑ Although the $20 1882 Date Back and Value Back National Bank Notes carry a series date of 1882, they were not issued/released until the late 1880s to early 1890s.
  30. ↑ Franklin, Benjamin, (1706–1790), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  31. ↑ Robert Fulton: A Symbol of the American Dream, Fordham University, retrieved 30 December 2012
  32. ↑ Gallatin, Albert, (1761–1849), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  33. ↑ Sobel, p. 139.
  34. ↑ Garfield, James Abram, (1831–1881), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  35. ↑ Sobel, p. 140.
  36. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 247.
  37. ↑ "A Great Nation in Grief" (PDF), The New York Times, 3 July 1881, retrieved 22 December 2012
  38. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 264.
  39. ↑ Sobel, p. 153.
  40. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 265.
  41. ↑ Hamilton, Alexander, (1757–1804), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  42. ↑ Heitman, p. 269.
  43. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 275.
  44. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 276.
  45. ↑ Harrison, Benjamin (1833–1901), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  46. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 281.
  47. ↑ Hendricks, Thomas Andrews, (1819–1885), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  48. ↑ Sobel, p. 172.
  49. ↑ Egle, William Henry; Hillegas, M. (1888), "Michael Hillegas", The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 11 (4): 406–409, JSTOR   20083226
  50. ↑ Jackson, Andrew, (1767–1845), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  51. ↑ Life and Death in the White House, National Museum of American History, retrieved 29 December 2012
  52. ↑ Jefferson, Thomas, (1743–1826), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  53. ↑ Knox Family, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, retrieved 30 December 2012
  54. ↑ John Jay Knox, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, retrieved 30 December 2012
  55. ↑ Lewis & Clark, National Park Service, retrieved 30 December 2012
  56. ↑ Lewis and Clark: The Journey Ends, Smithsonianmag.com, retrieved 1 January 2013
  57. ↑ Lincoln, Abraham, (1809–1865), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  58. ↑ Sobel, p. 232.
  59. ↑ "President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin", The New York Times, 15 April 1865, retrieved 22 December 2012
  60. ↑ Madison, James, Jr. ,(1751–1836), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  61. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 361.
  62. ↑ Marcy, William Learned, (1786–1857), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  63. ↑ Sobel, p. 241.
  64. ↑ Marshall, John, (1755–1835), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  65. ↑ Heitman, p. 381.
  66. ↑ Sobel, p. 249.
  67. ↑ McKinley, William, Jr., (1843–1901), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  68. ↑ Sobel, p. 254.
  69. ↑ "Nation Grieves at Loss of President" (PDF), The New York Times, 15 September 1901, retrieved 22 December 2012
  70. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 381.
  71. ↑ "The Dead of 1864", The New York Times, 29 January 1865, retrieved 22 December 2012
  72. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 382.
  73. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 383.
  74. ↑ Monroe, James, (1758–1831), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  75. ↑ Heitman, p. 396.
  76. ↑ Heidler, David S. and Jeanne T. (2004). Encyclopedia of the War of 1812. Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, MD. ISBN   1-59114-362-4. P. 16.
  77. ↑ Morris, Robert, (1734–1806), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  78. ↑ Samuel F.B. Morse Papers, The Library of Congress, retrieved 30 December 2012
  79. ↑ Inventor of the Week – Samuel F.B. Morse, Lemelson-MIT, archived from the original on 19 February 2003, retrieved 30 December 2012
  80. ↑ Kennicott, Philip (5 July 2011), "Samuel Morse's painting "Gallery of the Louvre" on display at National Gallery", The Washington Post, archived from the original on 1 July 2013, retrieved 6 January 2013
  81. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 473.
  82. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 474.
  83. 1 2 Eicher, John H. & David J., pp. 473–474.
  84. ↑ Seward, William Henry, (1801–1872), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  85. ↑ Sobel, p. 326.
  86. ↑ "The Attempt to Assassinate Seward" (PDF), The New York Times, 14 March 1909, retrieved 6 January 2013
  87. 1 2 Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 481.
  88. ↑ Sherman, John, (1823–1900), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  89. 1 2 Sobel, p. 328.
  90. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 482.
  91. 1 2 Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 484.
  92. ↑ The $500 1891 Treasury Note was designed, plates engraved, and proof certified and approved by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. However, the issue was never released/circulated.
  93. 1 2 Sobel, p. 339.
  94. ↑ Sumner, Charles, (1811–1874), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  95. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 525.
  96. ↑ Eicher, John H. & David J., pp. 525–526.
  97. ↑ Washington, George, (1732–1799), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  98. ↑ House of Burgesses, archived from the original on 4 January 2013, retrieved 1 January 2013
  99. ↑ Heitman, p. 571.
  100. ↑ Sobel, p. 375.
  101. ↑ First Lady Biography: Martha Washington, National First Ladies' Library, archived from the original on 30 June 2012, retrieved 30 December 2012
  102. ↑ Webster, Daniel, (1782–1852), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  103. ↑ Sobel, p. 378.
  104. 1 2 Sobel, p. 391.
  105. ↑ All Nobel Peace Prizes, Nobelprize.org, retrieved 6 January 2013
  106. ↑ Windom, William, (1827–1891), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
  107. ↑ Wright, Silas, Jr., (1795–1847), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012

Bibliography

  • Eicher, John H. and David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands Stanford, CA, Stanford University Press. ISBN   0-8047-3641-3.
  • Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. (2010). Paper Money of the United States, 19th Edition. Clifton, NJ, The Coin & Currency Institute, Inc. ISBN   0-87184-519-9.
  • Heitman, Francis B. (1914). Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During The War of the Revolution. Washington, DC, The Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, Inc.
  • Sobel, Robert, (ed.) (1990). Biographical Directory of the United States Executive Branch 1774–1989. Westport, CT, Greenwood Press. ISBN   0-313-26593-3.
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