United States paper currency is recognizable and known for its pale green color. It has a beautiful and unique design. Each different paper bill features the face of one of the pasts presidents, or founding fathers, of the United States of America. Below are some of the different paper bill designs. Each of these different bills displays a different president or founding forefather’s face on its front and other important designs or images on the back. Many security features have been added to paper money over the years as it has evolved. The bills contain dyes, strips, and images that enable people to distinguish actual bills, and fake, counterfeit bills. Both paper bills and coins have gone through many changes and improvements since they were first issued. These changes in the bills and coins represent the changes America has gone through as a country.
What presidents are on the bills
The One Dollar Bill
The one-dollar bill was first created with the face of Salmon P. Chase on the front of it, and it was later changed to show the face of George Washington instead. The back of the one-dollar bill has a beautiful image of the great seal on it. In the year 1963, the first federal reserve notes were issued. These bills had the face of George Washington on them. Did you know that changing the look and design of the one-dollar bill is not allowed? There is an act that was created to protect the design called the financial services and government appropriations act.
The Two Dollar Bill
The Two dollar bill was first issued in 1862. When it first came out, it had the face of Alexander Hamilton on its front side. In 1869 the look of the bill was changed. The face of Thomas Jefferson was placed on the bill instead. The back of the two-dollar bill had a picture of Thomas Jefferson’s house on it. His grand home was called the “Monticello”. In later years the picture was changed and was replaced by a portrait created by John Trumbull. This new picture was a painting of the Declaration of Independence. This change took place to celebrate the bicentennial.
The Five Dollar Bill
The five-dollar bill was first issued in 1914, showing the face of Abraham Lincoln on the front of it. There were several faces shown on the five-dollar bill over the years, before Lincoln, such as Christopher Columbus and Alexander Hamilton. In 1929, the back of the bill was changed to show an image of the Lincoln memorial. In the year 2008, this bill was changed again. The new changes to the bill included image additions such as an embossed great seal image next to Lincoln’s face, on the right, a purple five, and several small yellow fives.
The Ten Dollar Bill
The ten-dollar bill was first issued in 1914 with the face of President Andrew Jackson on it. In the year 1929, the look of this bill was changed to rather show the face of Alexander Hamilton on it. Alexander Hamilton was the very first treasure secretary. The back of the bill shows an image of the United States treasury building.
The Twenty Dollar Bill
The twenty-dollar bill was first issued in 1914 with the face of Grover Clevland on the front of it. In 1929 the look of the bill was changed to rather show a picture of the face of President Andrew Jackson. The back of the bill shows a detailed image of the white house.
The Fifty Dollar Bill
The fifty-dollar bill was first issued in 1914 showing the face of president Ulysses Grant on the front of it. On the back of the bill, there was originally a battleship, a merchant, and Panama. These pictures were later changed to a picture of the United States capitol building.
The One Hundred Dollar Bill
In 1914 the one hundred dollar bill was issued with the face of one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, on it. In the year 2009, the look of the bill was completely changed again. The change included placing Benjamin Franklin’s face near the picture of the Declaration of Independence. There are also images of a quill pen, and an ink well. The back of the bill shows Independence Hall, which is in Philadelphia, PA.
The Five Hundred Dollar Bill
In 1918 the one hundred dollar bill was issued showing the face of Supreme Court Justice John Marshall. From the year 1928 to the year 1934, the face of William McKinnley was shown on this bill. President William McKinley was assassinated. There have only been four United States Presidents who have ever been assassinated to date. This bill stopped being made in 1945. It was pulled from circulation in 1969.
More United States Bills Featuring Presidents Faces
Here are four more types of United States paper bills that feature the faces of United States presidents. These bills are much higher denominations and are seen far less often. They are not in circulation. If you have one of these bills in your hands, you can consider yourself quite lucky!
The One Thousand Dollar Bill
The one thousand dollar bill was first issued in 1861. It had the face of Grover Cleveland on it. This bill was created and issued to help with the funding of the Civil War. The one thousand dollar bill has not been printed since 1945. It was removed from circulation in 1969.
The Five Thousand Dollar Bill
The five thousand dollar bill was first issued in 1878. It originally was made with the face of James Maddison on the front of it. In 1918 the look of this bill was changed. The face of James Maddison was replaced with the face of George Washington.
The Ten Thousand Dollar Bill
The ten thousand dollar bill has the face of President Andrew Jackson on the front side of it. On the back of the bill, you will find a shield, an American flag, and a bald eagle.
The One Hundred Thousand Dollar Bill
There is such a thing as a one hundred thousand dollar bill. The 100,000 dollar bill shows the face of Woodrow Wilson. These bills are not released to common people and are not in circulation for public use. These bills are only used by federal reserve banks. These special 100,000 dollar bills are often called gold certificates. Only federal reserve banks can use these bills legally as legal tender.
United States President Faces On Coins
The four most commonly used and circulated United States coins are the quarter, the dime, the nickel, and the penny. Half dollars and whole dollar pieces are not as commonly used but are still made and circulated by the US mint. Each United States coin also displays a face.
The United States One Dollar Coin
The United State’s one-dollar coin is worth one whole dollar. The first one-dollar coins were issued in 1794. The dollar coin has changed designs several times since it was first issued. A beautiful set of one-dollar coins were created from the years 2007 through 2016 that were made to each feature a Presidents face. 41 different past presidents had their faces displayed on the one-dollar coin. In the year 2000 Glenna Woodacre’s design depicting Sacagawea and her baby son was placed on a gold one-dollar coin. The back of the Sacagawea dollar coin has an image of an American bald eagle on it.
The United States Half Dollar
The United States half-dollar coin is worth fifty cents. It takes two half-dollar coins to make a dollar. The United States half-dollar coin was first issued in 1794. In 1964, the design of the half-dollar coin was changed to feature the face of President John F. Kennedy. John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. This change to the coin took place one year after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The coin was originally made from silver. This stopped in the year 1971. Lady Liberty and Benjamin Franklin also took turns having their faces on the half dollar.
The United States Quarter
The United States quarter is worth twenty-five cents. It takes four quarters to make a dollar. The United States quarter was first issued in 1796. The face featured on the United States quarter is the face of President George Washington. George Washington was the very first president of the United States. His face was added to the quarter to honor his 200th birthday. This new change to the coin ended the minting of the standing liberty quarter. The words “In God we trust” and “liberty” are also on the quarter. There was a collection of state quarters made beginning in the year 1999. Fifty different designs were made and minted, one for each state.
The United States Dime
The United States dime is worth ten cents. It takes ten dimes to make a dollar. The United States dime was first issued in 1792. The face that is featured on the United States dime is the face of president Franklin D. Roosevelt. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States of America. His face was added to the dime in the year 1946. He died in the year of 1945. This change to the coin was made to honor him. The new Roosevelt dime ended the minting of the mercury dime which had been in circulation since the year 1916.
The United States Nickel
The United States nickel is worth five cents. It takes 20 nickles to make a dollar. The United States nickel was first issued in the year of 1866. The nickel’s design has been updated many times over the years. In the year 1930, the face of president Thomas Jefferson was added to the nickel. Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd president of the United States of America. The new design change ended the minting of the buffalo head nickel. This new nickel also had the words “In God, we trust” added to it, along with another new word, “Liberty”.
The United States Penny
The United States penny is worth one cent. It takes 100 pennies to make a dollar. The penny was first issued in 1787. The penny is the first coin that was ever issued featuring a president’s face. In 1909 Theodore Roosevelt had a penny commissioned to feature the face of United States President Abraham Lincoln. This was done to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America. The penny was also the first coin to have the words “In God, we trust” printed on it.