America’s New Currency
We’re still waiting for Harriet Tubman to show up on the twenty-dollar bill
Well, it’s finally official. Harriet Tubman is going to be featured on the American twenty-dollar bill but not until 2030. Andrew Jackson will still appear on the reverse of the bill but will eventually fade into currency obscurity as other famous American women will likely become ascendant.
In announcing the original change to start featuring women on bills, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said that “America’s currency is a way for our nation to make a statement about who we are and what we stand for.” While including the pictures of well-known American women on different bills is laudable, it strikes me that there might be other images to use in pursuit of Mr. Lew’s aim.
Although some countries adorn their currencies with pictures of their head of state (think the U. K., Canada and Australia), others take a more creative approach. The European Union uses different examples of European architecture on its banknotes. Mexico employs portraits of political, military and literary heroes from its past.
The United States uses mostly dead presidents on its paper currency. While that option is serviceable, it definitely lacks inspiration. Isn’t it time the folks at the Treasury Department start thinking outside the…
