I was wondering why certain people are on money yet others are not? Who made these decisions? But what's up with Benjiman Franklin being on a bill? He was a founding Father, but don't all other bills carry Presidents only? Why was he the only Founding Father to be granted such an honor? Being the President of the Constitutional Convention, is that why?

I personally feel Eisenhower should be on a bill or coin.

He's not the only non-president. Alexander Hamilton is on the 10.

Good point. So why these people over others?

I'm assuming that it's got something to do with their profound influence on the creation/development of our nation. That's just a guess though.

Think about it. George Washington? First president. Abe Lincoln? Some consider him our greatest president, was strong leader through the most tumultuous period our nation has ever gone through. Chalk that up for FDR, as well. Ben Franklin was integral in the early days of our country. Ditto for Alexander Hamilton, who was the first Sec. of Treasury and Thomas Jefferson, who needs no explanation. And Andrew Jackson was just the fucking man.

Ulysses S. Grant.. I have no idea why he's on there. I'd have no problem with Ike on the $50.

Isn't Ike on the dime?

Yes

I'm guessing Grant's on there more for his involvement in the Civil War than his time as President.

I'm surprised they haven't put Reagan on something yet.

NNNNEEEEVVVEEEERRRRRR!!!!!

That'd be FDR.

And some folks wanted to put Reagan on either the ten or the dime.

Me too. I thought for sure right after he died something was going to be announced.

Oh boy, numismatic questions! Coin collecting nerd to the rescue!


As noted, Hamilton was not a president, but he was the first Secretary of the Treasury, so that's why he's on the money. Hamilton was also instrumental in the founding of the New York Stock Exchange, so he's one of the single most important figures in American economic history.

Eisenhower was on the dollar coin from 1971 to 1978.




If by "the fucking man" you really mean "a backass fucking redneck", then yeah, Jackson was great. The reason he's on the money is because he was responsible for forming the First Bank of the United States, the precursor to the Federal Reserve.

Grant being on the money is a fucking mystery to me. BTW, this is the new $50 bill design, has anyone seen one yet?



Personally, I think it's wrong to have images of actual people on our money. We don't have kings, and we're supposed to be a democratic society of equals. Maybe it's that whole "thou shalt not make graven images" thing too. Most people don't know that even though there were images on bills earlier, the first time there was ever an image of an actual person on an American coin for general circulation was when the Lincoln penny was introduced in 1909 for Lincoln's centennial. It was almost like a commemorative coin, not unlike the half dollar with Christopher Columbus struck for the Columbian Exposition in 1892 and 1893, but it stuck and has had the same obverse design ever since. Only later were presidential images added to the other coins. Washington in 1932 (for his bicentennial), Jefferson in 1938, FDR in 1946, and Franklin on the half dollar in 1948, followed by Kennedy in 1964.

Before that, the coins had always had images of Liberty, or other iconic American images. Tell me you prefer faces of famous dead white men to these beautiful coins.

<chuckle>

Thanks PD, that answered them all.

I prefer the designs they have here. All colour coded and everything. When I look at a US note, I actually have to look hard to see what I've got in my hands.

I think we all know that those on the bills are there simply for the reason that they were masons. Duhhhh.

andrew jackson looks exactly like peter gammons

Does Abe really need the 5 AND the penny? Come on, where's the love for a great American like Charles Nelson Reilly?

I've thought Eisenhower was on the dime my whole entire life. What a mindfuck.

You have to have Congressional approval to make US money. Read your US Mint Fun Facts: http://www.usmint.gov/kids/cartoons/bir ... rybook.pdf