List of people on United States banknotes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

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[edit]

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
Abbr Note type Note 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
SSN Small Size Banknote Small

People depicted[edit]

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
Name Born Died Portrait[nb 6] Title/comments U.S. Banknote(s)[10] IAD[11]
Adams John Quincy Adams[12] 1767-07-1111 Jul 1767 1848-02-2323 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
Benton Thomas Hart Benton[14] 1782-03-1414 Mar 1782 1858-04-1010 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
Chase Salmon Portland Chase[15] 1808-01-1313 Jan 1808 1873-05-077 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
ClarkWilliam Clark 1770-08-011 Aug 1770 1838-09-011 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
ClayHenry Clay[18] 1777-04-1212 Apr 1777 1852-06-2929 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
ClevelandGrover Cleveland[20] 1837-03-1818 Mar 1837 1908-06-2424 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
ClintonDeWitt Clinton[21] 1769-03-022 Mar 1769 1828-02-1111 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
DecaturStephen Decatur[23] 1779-01-055 Jan 1779 1820-03-2222 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
Everett Edward Everett[24] 1794-04-1111 Apr 1794 1865-01-1515 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
Farragut David Glasgow Farragut[25] 1801-07-055 Jul 1801 1870-08-1414 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
Fessenden William Pitt Fessenden[27] 1806-10-1616 Oct 1806 1869-09-088 Sep 1869 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]
Franklin Benjamin Franklin[30] 1706-01-1717 Jan 1706 1790-04-1717 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
Fulton Robert Fulton[31] 1765-11-1414 Nov 1765 1815-02-2424 Feb 1815
US-$2-SC-1896-Fr.247.jpg
Engineer; Inventor

SC $2 (1896, reverse)

1896
Gallatin Albert Gallatin[32] 1761-01-2929 Jan 1761 1849-08-1212 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
Garfield James Abram Garfield[34] 1831-11-1919 Nov 1831 1881-09-1919 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
Grant Ulysses S. Grant[38] 1822-04-2727 Apr 1822 1885-07-2323 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
Hamilton Alexander Hamilton[41] 1757-01-1111 Jan 1757 1804-07-1212 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
Hancock Winfield Scott Hancock[43] 1824-02-1414 Feb 1824 1886-02-099 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
Harrison Benjamin Harrison[45] 1833-08-2020 Aug 1833 1901-03-1313 Mar 1901 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
Hendricks Thomas Andrews Hendricks[47] 1819-09-077 Sep 1819 1885-11-2525 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
Hillegas Michael Hillegas[49] 1729-04-2222 Apr 1729 1804-09-2929 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
Jackson Andrew Jackson[50] 1767-03-1515 Mar 1767 1845-06-088 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
Jefferson Thomas Jefferson[52] 1743-04-1313 Apr 1743 1826-07-044 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
Knox John Jay Knox, Jr.[53] 1828-03-1919 Mar 1828 1892-02-1212 Feb 1892 Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury (1872–84).[54]

NBN $100 (1902)

1902
Lewis Meriwether Lewis[55] 1774-08-1818 Aug 1774 1809-10-1111 Oct 1809
US-$10-LT-1901-Fr.114.jpg
Explorer; Governor, Louisiana/Missouri Territory (1807–09).[56]

LT $10 (1901)

1901
Lincoln Abraham Lincoln[57] 1809-02-1212 Feb 1809 1865-04-1515 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
Madison James Madison[60] 1751-03-1616 Mar 1751 1836-06-2828 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
Manning Daniel Manning 1831-05-1616 May 1831 1887-12-2424 Dec 1887
US-$20-SC-1891-Fr-317.jpg
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1885–87)

SC $20 (1886)

1886
Mansfield Joseph King Fenno Mansfield[61] 1803-12-2222 Dec 1803 1862-09-1818 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
Marcy William Learned Marcy[62] 1786-12-1212 Dec 1786 1857-07-044 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
Marshall John Marshall[64] 1755-09-2424 Sep 1755 1835-07-066 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
McCulloch Hugh McCulloch[66] 1801-12-077 Dec 1801 1895-05-2424 May 1895 Comptroller of the Currency (1863–65); U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1865–69 & 1884–85).

NBN $20 (1902)

1902
McKinley William McKinley, Jr.[67] 1843-01-2929 Jan 1843 1901-09-1414 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
McPherson James Birdseye McPherson[70] 1828-11-1414 Nov 1828 1864-07-2222 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
Meade George Gordon Meade[72] 1815-12-3131 Dec 1815 1872-11-066 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
Monroe James Monroe[74] 1758-04-2828 Apr 1758 1831-07-044 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
Morris Robert Morris[77] 1734-01-3131 Jan 1734 1806-05-088 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
Morse Samuel Finley Breese Morse[78] 1791-04-2727 Apr 1791 1872-04-022 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 Running Antelope 1821 (circa)c.1821 1896 (circa)c.1896
US-$5-SC-1899-Fr.271.jpg
Sioux Chief of the Hunkpapa

SC $5 (1899)

1899
Scott Winfield Scott[81] 1786-06-1313 Jun 1786 1866-05-2929 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
Seward William Henry Seward[84] 1801-05-1616 May 1801 1872-10-1616 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
Sheridan Philip Henry Sheridan[87] 1831-03-066 Mar 1831 1888-08-055 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
ShermanJ John Sherman[88] 1823-05-1010 May 1823 1900-10-2222 Oct 1900 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
ShermanW William Tecumseh Sherman[90] 1820-02-088 Feb 1820 1891-02-1414 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]
Stanton Edwin McMasters Stanton[93] 1814-12-1919 Dec 1814 1869-12-2424 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
Sumner Charles Sumner[94] 1811-01-066 Jan 1811 1874-03-1111 Mar 1874
US-$500-SC-1880-Fr-345c.jpg
U.S. Senate (Massachusetts, 1851–74).

SC $500 (1878)

1878
Thomas George H. Thomas[95] 1816-07-3131 Jul 1816 1870-03-2828 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
WashingtonG George Washington[97] 1732-02-2222 Feb 1732 1799-12-1414 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
WashingtonM Martha Washington[101] 1731-06-022 Jun 1731 1802-05-2222 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
Webster Daniel Webster[102] 1782-01-1818 Jan 1782 1852-10-2424 Oct 1852

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
WilsonWoodrow Wilson[104] 1856-12-2828 Dec 1856 1924-02-033 Feb 1924 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
WindomWilliam Windom[106] 1827-05-1010 May 1827 1891-01-2929 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
Wright Silas Wright, Jr.[107] 1795-05-2424 May 1795 1847-08-2727 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[edit]

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/title No. 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

References[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  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[edit]

  1. ^ a b 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
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  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
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  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. ^ a b c 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
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  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
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  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.
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  82. ^ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 474.
  83. ^ a b 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
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  90. ^ Eicher, John H. & David J., p. 482.
  91. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Sobel, p. 339.
  94. ^ Sumner, Charles, (1811–1874), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved 29 December 2012
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Bibliography[edit]

  • 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.

External links[edit]