| Politics , United States , Business & Economy , History , slavery The portrait of Harriet Tubman, the late abolitionist born into slavery in the 1800s, will replace the countenance of the US' seventh president, Andrew Jackson, on the $20 bill. Tubman, known as the leader of the Underground Railroad - a network of anti-slavery activists - will become the first African American on US paper money and the first woman to be depicted on the country's currency in 100 years. The portrait of Jackson, who was a slave owner, will be pushed to the back of the currency. The move is one of numerous changes announced by Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Wednesday. The $5 bill will also undergo a face-lift: The illustration of the Lincoln Memorial on the back will be redesigned to honour "events at the Lincoln Memorial that helped to shape our history and our democracy", Lew said. The new image on the $5 bill will include numerous new figures, including civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, who gave his famous "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the memorial in 1963.

US set to unveil new hundred-dollar bill On the $10 bill, the Treasury building on the back will be changed to commemorate a 1913 march that ended on the steps of the building. It will also feature suffragette leaders Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul. The US dollar, the world's most widely accepted currency, has undergone upgrades over the years to stay ahead of counterfeiters. But the updates proposed by Lew for the three bills will be the most sweeping changes since 1929, when all US paper money was redesigned to feature more standard designs and a smaller size to save printing costs. 'Small but meaningful vindication' Tubman, who was born into slavery in the early part of the 19th century, escaped and then used the network of anti-slavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad to transport other slaves to freedom. After the Civil War, Tubman, who died in 1913, became active in the campaign for women's suffrage. Numerous groups have been campaigning to have a woman honoured on the nation's paper currency, which has been an all-male domain for more than a century.

Amrita Myers, a historian at Indiana University, said honouring Tubman was appropriate. "Not only is this going to be the first African American historical figure on US currency, but it's a woman specifically from the era of slavery," Myers said. Wednesday's announcement helped mark a decades-long decline in the reputation of Jackson, once a pillar of the modern Democratic Party but now often defined by his ownership of slaves and the "Trail of Tears" saga that forcibly removed American Indians from their land. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker said in a statement that the currency move was a "small but meaningful vindication" for Native Americans. The last woman featured on US paper money was Martha Washington, the wife of the first president of the US, George Washington. She was on a dollar silver certificate from 1891 to 1896. The only other woman ever featured on US paper money was Pocahontas, from 1865 to 1869. Source: Agencies U.S. Coins and Currency Quarters, nickels, and dimes are currently made from nickel and copper. Pennies are currently made from copper plated zinc. Coins with ridges were originally made with precious metals.

The ridges were used to easily detect people clipping or filing off these precious metals. A U.S. Quarter has 119 grooves on its circumference. A dime has 118 grooves. Lincoln faces to the right because the penny was an adaptation of a plaque. E Pluribus Unum means "Out of Many, One". On the back of a Roosevelt dime, the center torch signifies liberty. The oak branch to the right signifies strength and independence. The olive branch to the left signifies peace. On an American one dollar bill, there is an owl in the upper left-hand corner of the "1" encased in the "shield" and a spider hidden in the front upper right-hand corner. The law prohibits portraits of living persons from appearing on Government Securities. Who Is On Old $5 Bills? | Antique Money Who Is On Old Five Dollar Bills? Who Is On Old $5 Bills? A very generic question we often get asked is simply “Who is on the five dollar bill?” The short answer is Abraham Lincoln. The long answer is it depends. United States five dollar bills were first issued in 1861. Since that time eight different men have been featured as the central portrait.

Contact us if you need a value on your $5 bill. Sales@AntiqueMoney.com Abraham Lincoln – Today we closely associate Abraham Lincoln with the penny and the five dollar bill. However, he was one of the last people to show up on United States currency for that denomination. He first appeared on the five dollar bill in 1914 with red seal federal reserve notes. Lincoln was also featured on 1915 and 1918 federal reserve bank notes. Typically the most valuable Abraham Lincoln five dollar bill is the 1923 $5 silver certificate. Abraham Lincoln has been on all five dollar bills since 1928. Alexander Hamilton – The modern ten dollar bill has a portrait of Alexander Hamilton. However, that tradition did not start until 1928. Sixty year earlier, in the 1860s, Hamilton had a small portrait on the bottom right corner of legal tender and demand notes. The portrait of Hamilton looks very different from the groomed image we see today. The early engravings show Hamilton with a ponytail; this leads casual observers to sometimes assume that the portrait is actually that of Thomas Jefferson. However, it is undeniably Alexander Hamilton.

Andrew Jackson – Andrew Jackson is on the modern twenty dollar bill that was first issued starting in 1928. However, Jackson actually made his first appearance on a five dollar bill in 1869. 1869 marked the redesign of several denominations of United States currency. The five dollar bill was one of the redesigned bills. Andrew Jackson would be featured on other five dollar bills from 1875, 1878, and 1880. Millions of 1907 $5 bills were printed. That year is where you are most likely to find a five dollar bill with Andrew Jackson. Ben Harrison – Ben Harrison was only featured on one type of United States money, that being the series of 1902 $5 national bank note. These were printed started in 1902 and not discontinued until 1928. So a five dollar with Ben Harrison can have any year between 1902 and 1928 printed on it. Red seal fives with Ben Harrison are the most valuable of the type. Blue seals were also issued. They have a chance to be valuable.

Chief Onepapa – 1899 five dollar silver certificates have many different nicknames. They are most commonly called a chief or an Indian. The nickname obviously derives from the fact that the center of the bill features a Native American. In fact, the series of 1899 $5 silver certificate is the only piece of United States money to feature a Native American as the central figure. The person depicted is Chief Onepapa aka Running Antelope. He was a tribe chief of a branch of the Dakota Sioux Indians. George Thomas – George Thomas is unquestionably the most obscure person ever featured on a large size five dollar bill. The casual collector often mistakenly identifies him as Ulysses Grant because of the thick beard and military uniform. Thomas can be found as the central figure on the 1890 and 1891 five dollar treasury notes. James Garfield – James Garfield was pictured on the series of 1882 five dollar bill. This type of money was printed between 1882 and 1921. He was put on the five dollar bill just months after he was assassinated in late 1881.

His last name, Garfield, is never printed on the actual bill. Due to the way money was printed back then, any year between 1882 and 1901 can appear on these five dollar bills. However, they will all say series of 1882. Ulysses Grant – Today the fifty dollar bill features a portrait of Ulysses S Grant. However, Grant actually first appeared on United States currency in 1886. The five dollar silver certificate was first printed in 1886 and Grant was featured on these bills. The most memorable thing about the 1886 $5 bill is that the back of it has an engraving with a bunch of Morgan silver dollars. Today that issue is called a Morgan back five. If it had more traditional artwork it would likely be called a Grant five. If you need help valuing or selling your old five dollar bill then send us an email with pictures and we can make an offer. Sales@AntiqueMoney.com New Five Dollar Bill Pictures and Facts by Ryan Guina Yesterday, March 13, 2008, the US Department of the Treasury released the new $5 bills into circulation.

The new $5 bills were included among currency shipments from Federal Reserve to banks, which will distribute the money to customers and businesses. People will start seeing these new bills as soon as this weekend. Changes to the new $5 bill Changes to the front: There are several striking visual changes to the new $5 bill. There is a splash of light purple next to Lincoln’s portrait that fades to gray as it spreads toward the bill’s edges. To the right of Lincoln’s portrait (as you view the bill), there is an imprinting of The Great Seal of the United States. Surrounding Lincoln’s portrait and The Great Seal of the United States is a band of purple stars. Changes to the back: The most obvious changes to the back side of the $5 bill include a large purple “5” in the bottom right corner of the bill, small yellow “5” numerals on the back, and a multitude of changes to the micro-printing and other security features. Security features of the new $5 bill The descriptions of the security features are taken from the US Government press release for the new $5 bill. Watermark: There are now two watermarks on the redesigned $5 bill.

A large number “5” watermark is located to the right of the portrait, replacing the previous watermark portrait of President Lincoln found on older design $5 bills. Its location is highlighted by a blank window incorporated into the background design. A second watermark — a column of three smaller “5”s — has been added to the new $5 bill design and is positioned to the left of the portrait. Security thread: The embedded security thread, which is located to the left of the portrait on older-design $5 bills, has moved to the right of the portrait on the redesigned $5 bill. The letters “USA” followed by the number “5” in an alternating pattern are visible along the thread from both sides of the bill. The embedded security thread glows blue when held under ultraviolet light. Rules for reproducing US currency Don’t go printing these out! Here is what you need to know if you want to reproduce images of US currency: Regulations for Reproducing U.S. Currency PART 411 — COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS OF UNITED STATES CURRENCY Authority: 18 U.S.C.

504; Treasury Directive Number 15-56, 58 FR 48539 (September 16, 1993) 411.1 Color illustrations authorized (a) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 25 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, authority is hereby given for the printing, publishing or importation, or the making or importation of the necessary plates or items for such printing or publishing, of color illustrations of U.S. currency provided that: (1) The illustration be of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of any matter so illustrated; (2) The illustration be one-sided; and (3) All negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, and any other thing used in the making of that illustration that contain an image of the illustration or any part thereof shall be destroyed and/or deleted or erased after their final use in accordance with this section. (b) [Reserved]. For more fun, explore the interactive feature for the new $5 bill.

Click on the link under the small picture of the $5 bill – “Explore the Interactive $5 Bill.” This launches a separate window, but is pretty cool! Photo credit: $5 bill front and back – The Associated Press (link no longer available). All other photos: MoneyFactory.gov . Related Posts Why is Abraham Lincoln on the $5 bill? | Reference.com Why is Abraham Lincoln on the $5 bill? A: Quick Answer Abraham Lincoln is on the $5 bill in order to commemorate his legacy and the sacrifices that he made for the United States while serving as president. Lincoln's face is also featured on the United States 1 cent coin and is featured on Mount Rushmore. Full Answer Lincoln may be on $5 bills, but it has not always been this way. Lincoln was actually the last face to appear on these bills and was preceded by many others. Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, George Thomas and Ulysses S. Grant were among others that had been featured on the U.S. $5 bill. Grant was featured on a coin instead of a bill. The first $5 bill in the U.S. that featured Lincoln was released in 1914.

He appeared on the red seal addition of the bill during this year, but also made an appearance on bills in 1915 and 1918. Since 1928, there have been five different versions of the $5 bill created in the U.S., and Lincoln's face has been featured on all of the bills. A silver certificate from 1923 featuring Lincoln's face is considered to be among the most valuable of all of the $5 bills that were created in a U.S. mint. Portraits & Designs Portraits & Designs Page Content I heard the $10 note will be redesigned. Where can I learn more about that initiative? Visit TheNew10 website for complete information and to share your ideas. Why were certain individuals chosen to be pictured on our paper currency? As with our nation's coinage, the Secretary of the Treasury usually selects the designs shown on United States currency. Unless specified by an Act of Congress, the Secretary generally has the final approval. This is done with the advice of Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) officials. The law prohibits portraits of living persons from appearing on Government Securities.

Therefore, the portraits on our currency notes are of deceased persons whose places in history the American people know well. The basic face and back designs of all denominations of our paper currency in circulation today were selected in 1928, although they were modified to improve security against counterfeiting starting in 1996. A committee appointed to study such matters made those choices. The only exception is the reverse design of the one-dollar bill. Unfortunately, however, our records do not suggest why certain Presidents and statesmen were chosen for specific denominations. What portraits are found on United States paper currency that is in circulation today? Whose portraits were included on currency notes that are no longer produced? United States currency notes now in production bear the following portraits: George Washington on the $1 bill, Thomas Jefferson on the $2 bill, Abraham Lincoln on the $5 bill, Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill, Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, Ulysses S. Grant on the $50 bill, and Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill. There are also several denominations of currency notes that are no longer produced.

These include the $500 bill with the portrait of William McKinley, the $1,000 bill with a portrait of Grover Cleveland, the $5,000 bill with a portrait of James Madison, the $10,000 bill with a portrait of Salmon P. Chase , and the $100,000 currency note bearing a portrait of Woodrow Wilson. What is the significance of the symbols on the back of the one-dollar bill? I'm particularly interested in the eye and the pyramid. The eye and the pyramid shown on the reverse side of the one-dollar bill are in the Great Seal of the United States. The Great Seal was first used on the reverse of the one-dollar Federal Reserve note in 1935. The Department of State is the official keeper of the Seal. They believe that the most accurate explanation of a pyramid on the Great Seal is that it symbolizes strength and durability. The unfinished pyramid means that the United States will always grow, improve and build. In addition, the "All-Seeing Eye" located above the pyramid suggests the importance of divine guidance in favor of the American cause.

The inscription ANNUIT COEPTIS translates as "He (God) has favored our undertakings," and refers to the many instances of Divine Providence during our Government's formation. In addition, the inscription NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM translates as "A new order of the ages," and signifies a new American era. What is the significance of the series date on our currency? Doesn't the date change each year as it does with coins? A new series will result from a change in the Secretary of the Treasury, the Treasurer of the United States, and/or a change to the note's appearance such as a new currency design. After the Secretary of the Treasury changes, a new series year is adopted. When the Treasurer of the United States changes, a suffix letter is added to the series year (e.g. 1999A). Additional changes of the Treasurer, whereby the Secretary of the Treasury remains the same results in subsequent letter changes to the current series year (e.g. 1999B, 1999C, etc.). On newly designed notes, the series year may appear on the right or the left of the note’s face side.

The year in which the currency is actually printed is not indicated on the note. Beginning with Series 1996 Federal Reserve notes, there are two prefix letters to the serial number. The first prefix letter indicates the series year. The second prefix letter indicates the issuing Reserve Bank. What States are shown on the back of the five-dollar bill? The vignette on the reverse of the five-dollar bill depicts the Lincoln Memorial. You may be aware that, engraved on that Memorial are the names of the 48 states in 1922, which was the year the Memorial was dedicated. There are engravings of 26 State names on front of the building, which appears on the note vignette. As a result, only 26 of the States appear on the note. The upper frieze of the Memorial bears the States of Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, and North Dakota. The lower Frieze lists the States of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and New York.

In addition, the engravings show the abbreviated names "Hampshire" (for New Hampshire) and "Carolina" (for South Carolina). We have no information why the prefixes for these states were not used. Page Image Last Updated: 12/1/2015 4:28 PM <div class="UserGeneric">The current browser does not support Web pages that contain the IFRAME element. To use this Web Part, you must use a browser that supports this element, such as Internet Explorer 7.0 or later.</div> Symbols on American Money - Philadelphia Fed Home > Education > Resources for Teachers > Publications > Symbols on American Money Symbols on American Money Paper money has circulated in America at least as far back as colonial times. But how did American currency come to look the way it does? What do all the symbols on our money mean? Symbolism on the One Dollar Bill Look at the image of perhaps the world's most instantly recognizable paper money — the $1 U.S. Federal Reserve note. What does it mean to you? Despite our familiarity with this particular currency note, many of us have never looked closely at its design and symbolism.

As you'll learn as you read on, American currency displays many significant symbols. Once you know what they mean, you may never look at your money in quite the same way. $1 Federal Reserve notes Perhaps the most universally renowned symbol to appear on American paper money is front and center on our $1 Federal Reserve notes. George Washington, our nation's first president, is a nationally recognized symbol of unity and trust. But he was not always there. The $1 legal tender note, issued by the United States during the Civil War, was the first widely circulated U.S. $1 bill (see below). It features Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury. Symbolism was very much on the minds of Treasury officials when they were contemplating the design for the Treasury seal (in red on the left side of the note below). They decided that the number of spikes surrounding the Treasury seal should equal the number of states in the Union, which was 34 before the start of the Civil War. A problem arose because seven states had seceded from the Union by February 1861 and four more left in April of that year. However, the patriotic Treasury viewed the situation as temporary and proceeded to include 34 spikes on its seal.

The note shown below was issued in 1862. $1 legal tender note, issued in 1862 On the front of today's $1 note, you see the modern U.S. Treasury seal (shown below right). The balancing scales represent justice. In the center of the seal, the chevron's 13 stars represent the 13 original colonies. The key underneath is an emblem of official authority. According to the Treasury Department, the original seal, which was very similar to the one shown here, was designed by Francis Hopkinson, a delegate to the Continental Congress. The present, more streamlined design was approved in January 1968. U.S. Treasury seal Note also the Federal Reserve System seal. Previously, the seal of a Federal Reserve Bank was printed on each bill of all denominations. But beginning with the $100 bill in 1996, a general seal representing the Federal Reserve System began replacing individual Reserve Bank seals, and this general seal is now used on all of our higher denomination notes. The $1 and $2 bills still carry the District seals, which feature a letter that indicates the issuing Reserve Bank.

Philadelphia, which is the Third Federal Reserve District, is designated with the letter C on the note at top. But it is the reverse side of the $1 note that holds the most meaning. Our Founding Fathers were deeply aware of the importance of symbols. In fact, before the adjournment of the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, a committee was appointed to create a seal that would symbolize America's ideals. The committee included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin — three of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson and Franklin: Pharaohs and Turkeys We know of one connection between ancient Egypt and the origins of American paper money: the pyramid on the reverse of the Great Seal. However, if Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson had had their way, the Great Seal of the United States might have featured an Egyptian pharaoh. Our notes might also have featured not the proud eagle but an entirely different bird. The seal that Franklin and Jefferson advocated symbolized an Egyptian pharaoh sitting in an open chariot with a crown on his head and a sword in his hand, passing through the divided waters of the Red Sea in pursuit of the Israelites.

The motto they favored was "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." In fact, Jefferson so strongly supported this idea that he used it on his own personal seal. In addition, Franklin was very much in favor of using the turkey as America's national bird. He expressed this choice ardently to his daughter in a letter, explaining that the eagle is "a bird of bad moral character." Franklin noted that the turkey, on the other hand, is a "more respectable bird and...a true original native of America." Designing the Seal However, designing the seal was a difficult and controversial undertaking that spanned six years and three committees. The final proposal, as accepted by Congress, was submitted on June 13, 1782, by Charles Thomson, a prominent Philadelphia merchant and secretary of the Continental Congress. He is credited with finalizing the design — unifying the ideas of the three committees, their consultants, and artists. The result was the Great Seal of the United States, and hidden within it are the messages our Founding Fathers wanted to send to future generations of Americans. Today, the two most prominent features on the back of the $1 note are the pyramid and the eagle, which together constitute the Great Seal of the United States.

Great Seal of the United States To solve the mystery of what these symbols mean, we go directly to the source, Charles Thomson, who presented his written description of the Great Seal to Congress on June 20, 1782. The most striking feature of the front of the seal is, in Thomson's words, "an American Eagle on the wing and rising." The eagle flies freely, independent of any support, holding in its left talon 13 arrows, signifying war, and in its right talon an olive branch, signifying peace. You may think which talon holds the arrows and which holds the olive branch is of little consequence. But, in the language of symbols, it is of great significance. The right side signifies dominance. Therefore, arrows depicted in the eagle's right talon can be interpreted as a warlike gesture. Failure to adhere to this concept almost got the United States into a war. Silver coin, circa 1801-1807 From 1801 to 1807, the eagles on the backs of our silver coins were inadvertently shown with the arrows in the right talon instead of the left.

Some European journalists and diplomats interpreted this as an expression of American belligerence and tried to use it as grounds for promoting war with the United States. In response, a new design was created in 1807 for the backs of American silver coins. This time, the olive branch — representing peace — was placed in the dominant right talon, putting an end to the journalistic saber rattling. The eagle holds a banner in its beak with the words "E Pluribus Unum," which Thomson translates to mean "Out of many, one." Thomson goes on to explain that the shield, or escutcheon, on the eagle's breast is composed of two major parts: a horizontal blue band, which represents Congress, extending across the top third of the shield supported by 13 red and white vertical stripes, which represent the 13 original colonies. The 13 stars above the eagle represent a new constellation taking its place in the universe, in the same way that a new nation takes its place among the other sovereign nations. The colors also have significance. Blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice; red signifies hardiness and valor; and white indicates purity and innocence.

The reverse of the Great Seal features an unfinished pyramid, which Thomson states signifies "strength and duration." The pyramid is composed of 13 rows of building blocks, on the first of which are the Roman numerals representing 1776. The Latin inscription "Novus Ordo Seclorum" translates to "A New Order of the Ages." Thomson explains that this refers to the new form of government. Influenced by the poetry of Virgil, he composed this motto himself, writing that it signified "the beginning of the new American Era." At the top of the pyramid is an eye, with rays that emanate in all directions. Above the eye, the Latin motto "Annuit Coeptis" translates to "Providence Has Favored Our Undertakings," which Thomson explains "alludes to the many signal interpositions of providence in favor of the American cause." Franklin Roosevelt's Role Now that we know what the Great Seal stands for, we might ask why it appears on our paper money. Who made that decision?

$1 silver certificate, series 1928 As you can see from the image at right, the first small sized dollar bills issued in America did not feature the Great Seal or much of any symbolism at all. Today, paper money collectors refer to currency with this design as "funny backs." This all changed one day in 1934 when Secretary of Agriculture (and later vice president) Henry Wallace was waiting to go into a meeting. He picked up a publication describing the Great Seal and focused on the Latin phrase "Novus Ordo Seclorum," which we know was intended to mean "A New Order of the Ages." But Secretary Wallace interpreted it slightly differently and could not wait to bring to the attention of President Franklin Roosevelt the Great Seal with its message as he understood it: "The New Deal of the Ages." As Freemasons, both Roosevelt and Wallace saw the symbol above the pyramid as representing the "all-seeing eye," the Masonic symbol of the Great Architect of the Universe. President Roosevelt liked Wallace's idea very much — so much so, in fact, that he decided to replace the design on the reverse of our $1 bills with something more symbolic and patriotic: the Great Seal of the United States.

In the initial design of the new currency, the seal was reversed from how it appears today (as in the note at top), with the eagle featured on the left and the pyramid on the right. President Roosevelt took a keen personal interest in the new design. Looking at an early version of the new back, we clearly see Roosevelt's suggested changes indicated in his own handwriting and signed with his initials, FDR. In addition to reversing the positions of the pyramid and the eagle, Roosevelt also notes that the title "The Great Seal of the United States" should be added below the circles. The new version was first issued on the series of 1935 $1 silver certificates. These were nearly identical to the $1 Federal Reserve notes we use today. But one important distinction was still to come. "In God We Trust" first started to appear on U.S. money during the Civil War era, largely because of the nation's increasing religious sentiment. The motto was used for the first time on the copper two-cent piece in 1864. But it was not until 1956 that Congress passed a law declaring "In God We Trust" the national motto of the United States.

The motto was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the $1 silver certificate. Symbolism on Early Money It's not just our modern, familiar currency whose design holds significance. Early paper money issued by the Continental Congress also displayed important symbols and mottoes. The images on the fronts of these notes were all highly symbolic, and each image was paired with a patriotic Latin motto. Most of the designs can be traced directly back to a book of emblems printed in Europe in the 1600s — a book that was almost certainly in Benjamin Franklin's library in Philadelphia. Franklin loved a good riddle, and a pairing of the Latin phrases with symbols on the notes was almost certainly his idea. Fractional denominations of continental notes The continental notes and the symbols that appear on them give us further insight into what the Founding Fathers were thinking about when they considered this very first federal issue. Many of these designs were the predecessors of the Great Seal. The February 1776 issue included fractional denominations, including this third of a dollar shown at right.

The front of this note shows the sun shining on a sundial with the Latin word "Fugio" and the English words "Mind Your Business." This picture and word puzzle, attributed to Benjamin Franklin, means, "Time flies, so mind your business." The first American cent, known as the chain cent The back of the note shows a chain composed of 13 links, each with the name of one of the 13 original colonies. This design, also attributed to Franklin, was used on the first federally authorized coins as well. The image shown here at left depicts the back of the first American cent, known as the chain cent. These coins came under strong public criticism because some people viewed the chain as a symbol of slavery. A year later, new one-cent coins were minted with a different design on the back — a victory wreath. As the Revolutionary War proceeded, inflation became a fact of life, and higher denominations of notes were needed. Some of the designs on the higher denomination continental notes have been attributed to Francis Hopkinson. Some of his designs, shown here on early continental notes, are viewed as predecessors to the symbols on the Great Seal and Treasury Seal.

The $40 continental note features the all-seeing eye over 13 stars arranged around an eternal flame. Also, a stepped pyramid of 13 levels appears on the $50 continental note, along with the motto "Perennis," meaning "everlasting." The $65 continental note depicts a hand holding a balance scale below the motto "Fiat Justitia," or "Let justice be done." $40, $50, and $65 continental notes Other Early American Money Just as the Continental Congress was authorizing the first issues of federal paper money, individual states were issuing their own paper money. Patriotic symbols were apparent on these notes as well. $5 note issued by Georgia in 1777 The $5 note issued by Georgia in 1777 features a coiled rattlesnake and the Latin motto "Nemo Me Impune Lacessit," meaning "No one provokes me with impunity." The handwritten document pictured below left shows the depreciation of the continental dollar against the Spanish milled dollar, or piece of eight, between 1777 and 1780. When the continental notes were first issued, they were well received and circulated near par value.

As time went on, however, British counterfeiting and other inflationary factors caused the notes to become nearly worthless. By 1780, it took 4,000 continental dollars to buy 100 Spanish milled dollars. By the end of the Revolutionary War, public confidence in paper money issued by the federal government was at an all-time low. There would be no more widely circulated federal paper money until the Civil War. A handwritten document that shows the depreciation of the continental dollar against the Spanish milled dollar, or piece of eight, between 1777 and 1780. Instead, we entered a period of private and state banking. Paper money was issued by banks, state governments, local governments, private individuals, and companies. From around 1790 to 1865, the number of paper money issuers grew from a handful to over 8,000 different banks and institutions. In addition, depending on the note and the issuer, currency was often discounted. People had to be knowledgeable about the current worth of various notes from myriad issuers — a particularly overwhelming task for merchants.

The earliest notes issued by private banks were relatively simple in design and symbolism, and counterfeiters saw this as a golden opportunity. They plagued bank after bank, driving many into insolvency. This forced the legitimate printers of bank notes to develop more elaborate designs. Many of the notes featured symbolism that was deeply local in nature. For example, the early currency of the Windham Bank, in the small eastern Connecticut town of Windham, features a unique symbol that originated in local folklore. $5 private bank note, 1850s In 1754, at the time of the French and Indian War, the legend says that two Windham men were returning home through the woods late one night when they were startled by strange and terrifying noises echoing through the night air. The two men rushed home to sound the alarm for what they believed to be a large company of Indians and soldiers coming to attack the town. The villagers readied their weapons and prepared for the worst. When morning came, they marched out to confront the enemy directly, but no enemy was found. Instead, the villagers came upon the source of the commotion in a nearby pond. It was indeed a battlefield, but the combatants were not soldiers or Indians, but bullfrogs.

What the townspeople of Windham saw shocked them — thousands of dead and dying frogs, some still uttering war cries. What had happened that night is still not clear. The theory held at the time was that they died fighting each other, possibly for the small amount of water in the lowered pond. The tale quickly spread from town to town and from generation to generation. This strange event became an important part of Windham's history. It has been immortalized in poetry and song and even on the local currency. The Windham Bank issued notes prominently featuring a vignette of a frog standing over the body of another frog to remind everyone of Windham's famous battle of the frogs. Other notes feature unique design elements as well. The Santa Claus note shown here is whimsical and entertaining and very much in demand by collectors. The Santa Claus design suggests happiness and generosity — characteristics not often associated with banks. $20 private bank note, 1850s There was more than one independent nation in America issuing bank notes in the period between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. The Republic of Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and remained an independent nation until 1845, issuing its own paper money.

$50 note issued by Republic of Texas, pre-1845 Another government that issued bank notes in America during the 19th century was the Confederate States of America. About a month before the beginning of hostilities at Fort Sumter, the Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, C.G. Memminger, ordered bank notes for the new government from the National Bank Note Company in New York City. The symbols he chose for the first issue were quite appropriate. On the $1000 note shown here, John C. Calhoun, the great states' rights advocate, appears on the left. Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States and a staunch supporter of states' rights, appears on the right. The symbolism used on the 1861 $50 Confederate note (shown at right) from the same first issue should come as no surprise. It clearly sends a message about the importance the Confederacy placed on slavery and agriculture. On the other hand, what could be more symbolically embarrassing than the choice made for the $10 Confederate note? The child in the lower right corner is quite charming from an artistic point of view.

However, at the time the note was issued, the child was an adult living in Philadelphia — the well-known Unionist and ardent abolitionist Dr. Alfred Elwyn. The image on the left of this note seems more appropriate: Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter, a senator from Virginia who served as Secretary of State for the Confederacy from 1861 to 1862. $10 Confederate note Sometimes the symbolism employed on a bank note can provoke a strong reaction from the public. That was the case with at least one of the notes in the U.S. Educational series of 1896. The $1 silver certificate in this series is widely considered one of the most beautiful designs ever used on American paper money. On it, a woman representing history instructs a boy about the U.S. Constitution, which has been engraved on a plaque. The background shows the landscape of Washington, D.C. $1 silver certificate, series 1896 However, the $5 note in this beautiful series became the subject of a great deal of controversy. In the center of this magnificent note is an allegorical female representing electricity as the most dominant force in the world.

While classical female figures appeared on hundreds of different bank notes throughout the 19th century, this particular note elicited a violent negative reaction at the time from senators' wives. $5 silver certificate, series 1896 The entire series was quickly abandoned. The next $5 silver certificate was issued with what the government thought would be a far less controversial symbol — a Sioux Indian chief. However, workers at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing substituted the headdress of a rival tribe, the Pawnee, on the final image. This switch precipitated not only a political scandal but caused additional ill will between the Sioux and Pawnee peoples. $5 silver certificate, 1899 Images on Early Federal Reserve Notes The first series of notes issued by the Federal Reserve Banks featured George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Grover Cleveland, and Ulysses S. Grant on the fronts. $1 and $2 Federal Reserve bank notes, series 1918 The backs displayed a far more symbolic variety of themes. The eagle carrying the U.S. flag on the $1 bill radiates confidence and patriotism. The World War I battleship on the $2 bill symbolizes strength and power.

On the $50 bill (shown below), the word "Panama" appears at the bottom of this beautiful engraving, since this note was issued the year that the Panama Canal was opened. Other figures have appeared on the front of higher denomination Federal Reserve notes, including William McKinley, James Madison, Salmon P. Chase, and Woodrow Wilson. The largest denomination note printed today is the $100 bill, which features Benjamin Franklin. In 1929, when the size of all U.S. currency notes was reduced, the front and back designs of all notes were standardized. Portraits were placed on the front and monuments or buildings on the back. Conclusion Pyramids, eagles, goddesses, and frogs — even Santa Claus. These are just a few of the images that have appeared on American currency over the past three centuries. Some of these symbols are no longer used, but many of them can still be found on present-day U.S. notes and coins. Understanding the importance of the symbolism on American money and the meaningful messages it conveys helps us to better appreciate the ideals of hope, optimism, and patriotism our Founding Fathers were trying to pass on to all future generations of Americans to share.

Order This Essay Order copies of "Symbols on American Money" and other publications from the Philadelphia Fed by using our online order form. Untitled Document A LESSON ABOUT MONEY (Not about Spending it!) Content Areas: Mathematics (Measurement, Estimation, Number Sense), U.S. History, Science Grade Level: 6 - 10 Context: The proscope can be used to examine daily objects to explore their microscopic properties. US currency is fairly interesting to look at and contains a lot of information. Some of this information is clearly visible but some is indeed difficult to detect with the naked eye. The proscope facilitates discovering these micro objects. Introduction: U.S. Currency is designed with many subtle "microprinted" objects to deter counterfeiting. These "micro print" patterns are shown here for the One , Five , Ten , and Twenty denominations. Some magnified coins are also included, as well. Research Questions: When was microprinting developed?___________________________________________ How does it reduce counterfeiting?_______________________________________________________________ Newer Ten Dollar bills have several interesting aspects: First, look at the bottom left corner on the front of your ten dollar bill. At first glance the "10" appears as if it has lines across it.

In reality theses "lines" are rows of the word "ten" up and down the 1 and Zero. Next, the "tens" also have a unique color and loop pattern on the front of the bill in the bottom right corner. In addition, the tens also have a string of "micro text" just above the name: Hamilton, printed on the front of the bill. Proscope Activity: Using your proscope, see if you can find each of these, and search for additional hidden print or objects. The Five Dollar bill also has some interesting hidden items: First, examine the left and right borders on the front of the bill. Do you notice anything odd? Try examining these side borders with your ProScope to expose the following repeated pattern. Next, much like the Ten Dollar bill, the Five also has "micro text" printed near Lincoln's name. Finally, take a look at the roof of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the Five Dollar bill. Several state names are printed there. Can you find all of them? How many are shown?_________________________________________ Why do you think these are the states listed?_____________________________________________ There are two states listed with names that are different from their current names.

List them ___________________________________ & ___________________________________________ Measurment activities: The columns on the Lincoln Memorial are 13 meters tall. Using a $5 bill determine the following information. How tall are the columns on the actual bill?_________________________________________________ How tall is the entire Memorial (on the bill)?________________________________________________ Convert this value and determine the height of the entire Memorial in reality?_______________________ This value is in meters, convert it to feet:____________________________________________________ W e should look briefly at the One Dollar bill. There are not as extensive measures to prevent counterfeiting these bills but there are still some interesting things to look at. Number Sense Activity: The base on the pyramid on the reverse has an inscription of Roman numerals on it. What is this number and what does it represent? ________________________________________________________________ The eagle on the back is holding arrows and an olive branch with a symbol above it's head. Each of these are related; the arrows, the olive branch, and the symbol. What is the relationship? What does the number of items in each set mean? ________________________________________________________________________ Finally, try to examine the Pyramid. Don't examine the eye but rather, how many levels are shown in the base?

__________________________________________________ The Twenty Dollar bill has some interesting embedded objects as well, several are visible to the unaided eye. First, the back of the 20 has numerous little 20s (watermarks) scattered around the bill. Here are a few. Also, interesting is the Blueish watermark band that runs along the front of the bill. At first glance, it appears that it is a blue band with "Twenty USA, Twenty USA" running across the right side of the bill. The first sequence appears as though it is a "3-D Block" pattern. Upon further inspection a bit more is revealed (shown here): Finally, the Twenty Dollar bill also holds a "micro text" imprint similar to the Ten and Five . Try and find it (it's in a bit different location than the other bills). Where is it located? ________________________ Here is what it looks like. Other intersting money revelations: Notice Lincoln sitting at the Lincoln Memorial on a penny. Measurement Activity: It's kind of difficult to measure the penny effectively. However, we can use the following and the image above to estimate about how tall Lincoln's statue is. Recall that the columns are 13 meters tall.

Use this to estimate just how many meters tall the statue of Lincoln sitting at the Memorial really is: (Realize that in the real memorial Lincoln is set further back "inside" the building. Estimated Answer: ___________________________________________ Research: Find out how tall the statue really is once you have estimated it:_________________________ Just for fun: The odd depiction of an eagle landing on Earth's Moon with the Earth in the background on the back of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin. I find this odd because the Susan B was issued in 1979, ten years after the first moon landing. Interesting historical facts associated with bills & coins: Susan B. Anthony Coin: United States coins are manufactured by the United States Mint, a federal agency of the Department of the Treasury. The mint makes five coins for general circulation-the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar-and each one is engraved with the profile of a president. Between 1979 and 1981, the mint also made a one-dollar coin for general circulation, designed with the profile of women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony, who worked hard to establish Women suffrage.

The Lincoln Memorial: The outside of the building features a series of 36 columns that represent the states in the Union when Lincoln died in 1865. Each column is 13 m high and inscribed with the name of a state. Above these 36 columns are the names of the 48 states of the Union when the memorial was built. The Five Dollar bill represents the front view of the memorial hence the limited number of state names. Other interesting historical facts can be discovered by researching U.S. Currency (Internet, your money, other sources). Complete the following table with those facts and compare your results to what other people found. An excel table is located [ here ] to help with space constraints. (MP?) = "does it include microprinting?" The Quarter Dollar is done for you. Hint: Some answers are on this page. Currency

Question: Which US President is depicted on a $5 bill?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln