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.
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.
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.
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.
^The scope of U.S. banknotes (e.g., 1861 to the present) is based on the parameters established by the Friedberg reference book.[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]
^Placement of an individual on a banknote by an Act of Congress supersedes Treasury Department approval.[5]
^ 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]
^ Exceptions to the large versus small categories are the CITN, IBN, and RC, all slightly larger than the large size note dimensions.
^Clicking on the majority of the portraits will reveal the entire note.
^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.
^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.
Eicher, John H. and David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands Stanford, CA, Stanford University Press. ISBN0-8047-3641-3.
Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. (2010). Paper Money of the United States, 19th Edition. Clifton, NJ, The Coin & Currency Institute, Inc. ISBN0-87184-519-9.
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. ISBN0-313-26593-3.
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