The Faces on U.S. Currency
There are 59 individual portraits of people central to the history of the United States depicted on the country's banknotes including presidents, cabinet members, members of Congress, Founding Fathers, jurists, and military leaders. In 1929, United States currency was standardized to include portraits on the bills' front sides.
Abraham Lincoln was portrayed on the 1861 $10 Demand Note
Salmon Chase approved his own portrait for the 1862 $1 Legal Tender note
Winfield Scott was depicted on an 1864 Interest Bearing note
Francis Spinner was depicted on the Third Issue $0.50 Fractional note
Spencer Clark was depicted on the Third Issue $0.03 Fractional note
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.
Below is an index of the portraits on U.S. Currency and the notes they are pictured on. Click on the name for more information of the person. Click on the desciption of the note to see the note.
Circulating Notes
George Washington - 1st President of the U.S.
| $0.10 | Fractional Currency | First Issue | |
| $0.50 | Fractional Currency | First Issue | |
| $0.05 | Fractional Currency | Second Issue | |
| $0.10 | Fractional Currency | Second Issue | |
| $0.25 | Fractional Currency | Second Issue | |
| $0.50 | Fractional Currency | Second Issue | |
| $0.03 | Fractional Currency | Third Issue | |
| $0.10 | Fractional Currency | Third Issue | |
| $0.25 | Fractional Currency | Fourth Issue | |
| $100 | Compound Interest | 1861 | |
| $500 | Compound Interest | 1861 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate (reverse) | 1896 | |
| $2 | Silver Certificate | 1899 | |
| $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | |
| $1 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1918 | |
| $20 | Gold Certificate | 1922 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1923 | |
| $1 | Legal Tender | 1923 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1928 | |
| $1 | Legal Tender | 1928 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1934 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate (Experimental R) | 1935 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate (Experimental S) | 1935 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1935 | |
| $1 | Emergency Note (Africa) | 1935 | |
| $1 | Emergency Note (Hawaii) | 1935 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1957 | |
| $1 | Federal Reserve Note | 1963-Current |
Thomas Jefferson - 3rd President of the U.S.
| $0.05 | Fractional Currency | First Issue | |
| $0.25 | Fractional Currency | First Issue | |
| $2 | Legal Tender | 1917 | |
| $2 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1918 | |
| $2 | Legal Tender | 1928 | |
| $2 | Legal Tender | 1953 | |
| $2 | Legal Tender | 1963 | |
| $2 | Federal Reserve Note | 1976/current |
Abraham Lincoln - 16th President of the U.S.
| $0.50 | Fractional Currency | Fourth Issue | |
| $10 | Demand Note | 1861 | |
| $10 | Legal Tender | 1863 | |
| $20 | Compound Interest | 1865 | |
| $500 | Gold Certificate | 1870 | |
| $100 | Legal Tender | 1880 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1899 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Note | 1914 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1918 | |
| $500 | Gold Certificate | 1922 | |
| $5 | Silver Certificate | 1923 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Note | 1928 | |
| $5 | Legal Tender | 1928 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1929 | |
| $5 | National Bank Note | 1929 | |
| $5 | Silver Certificate | 1934 | |
| $5 | Emergency Note (Africa) | 1934 | |
| $5 | Emergency Note (Hawaii) | 1934 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Note | 1934 | |
| $5 | Silver Certificate | 1953 | |
| $5 | Legal Tender | 1963 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Note | 1995 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Note | 1999 | |
| $5 | Federal Reserve Note | 2006 |
Alexander Hamilton - 1st Secretary of the Treasury
| $5 | Demand Note | 1861 | |
| $2 | Legal Tender | 1862 | |
| $50 | Legal Tender | 1862 | |
| $5 | Legal Tender | 1863 | |
| $50 | Compound Interest | 1864 | |
| $500 | Interest Bearing | 1864 | |
| $20 | Legal Tender | 1880 | |
| $1,000 | Gold Certificate | 1882 | |
| $1,000 | Federal Reserve Note | 1918 | |
| $1,000 | Gold Certificate | 1922 | |
| $10 | Gold Note | 1928 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Note | 1928 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1929 | |
| $10 | National Bank Note | 1929 | |
| $10 | Silver Certificate | 1934 | |
| $10 | Emergency Note (Africa) | 1934 | |
| $10 | Emergency Note (Hawaii) | 1934 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Note | 1934 | |
| $10 | Silver Certificate | 1953 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Note | 1977 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Note | 1999 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Note | 2004 |
Andrew Jackson - 7th President of the U.S.
| $50 | Compound Interest | 1861 | |
| $10,000 | Legal Tender | 1878 | |
| $10,000 | Gold Certificate | 1882 | |
| $5 | Legal Tender | 1907 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Note | 1914 | |
| $10 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1918 | |
| $10 | Legal Tender | 1923 | |
| $20 | Gold Note | 1928 | |
| $20 | Federal Reserve Note | 1928 | |
| $20 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1929 | |
| $20 | National Bank Note | 1929 | |
| $20 | Emergency Note (Hawaii) | 1934 | |
| $20 | Federal Reserve Note | 1934 | |
| $20 | Federal Reserve Note | 1963 | |
| $20 | Federal Reserve Note | 1996 | |
| $20 | Federal Reserve Note | 2004 |
Ulysses Grant - 18th President of the U.S.
| $0.15 | Fractional Currency | Third Issue | |
| $5 | Silver Certificate | 1891 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1899 | |
| $5 | Silver Certificate (reverse) | 1896 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Note | 1914 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1918 | |
| $50 | Gold Note | 1923 | |
| $50 | Gold Note | 1928 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Note | 1928 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1929 | |
| $50 | National Bank Note | 1929 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Note | 1934 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Note | 1990 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Note | 1996 | |
| $50 | Federal Reserve Note | 2004 |
Benjamin Franklin - Drafter of the Declaration of Independence
| $10 | Refunding Certificate | 1879 | |
| $50 | Legal Tender | 1880 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1914 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Note | 1914 | |
| $100 | Gold Note | 1928 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Note | 1928 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1929 | |
| $100 | National Bank Note | 1929 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Note | 1934 | |
| $100 | Legal Tender | 1966 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Note | 1981 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Note | 1996 | |
| $100 | Federal Reserve Note | 2009 |
Presidents of the U.S.
James Madison - 4th President of the U.S.
| $5,000 | Legal Tender | 1878 | |
| $5,000 | Gold Certificate | 1882 | |
| $5,000 | Federal Reserve Note | 1918 | |
| $5,000 | Gold Certificate | 1928 | |
| $5,000 | Federal Reserve Note | 1928 |
James Monroe - 5th President of the U.S.
| $100 | Silver Certificate | 1880 | |
| $100 | Silver Certificate | 1891 |
John Quincy Adams - 6th President of the U.S.
| $500 | Legal Tender | 1869 |
James Garfield - 20th President of the U.S.
| $20 | Gold Certificate | 1882 | |
| $5 | National Bank Note 2nd Charter | 1882 |
Grover Cleveland - 22st President of the U.S.
| $20 | Federal Reserve Note | 1914 | |
| $20 | Federal Reserve Bank | 1915 | |
| $1,000 | Gold Certificate | 1934 |
Benjamin Harrison - 23rd President of the U.S.
| $5 | National Bank Note 3rd Charter | 1902 |
William McKinley - 25th President of the U.S.
| $10 | National Bank Note 3rd Charter | 1902 | |
| $500 | Gold Certificate | 1928 | |
| $500 | Federal Reserve Note | 1934 |
Woodrow Wilson - 28th President of the U.S.
| $100,000 | Gold Certificate | 1934 |
Important Figures
in alphabetical order by last name
Thomas Benton - U.S. Senator
| $100 | Gold Certificate | 1875 | |
| $100 | Gold Certificate | 1922 |
Salmon Chase - 25th Secretary of the Treasury
| $50 | Compound Interest | 1861 | |
| $1 | Legal Tender | 1862 | |
| $10 | Compound Interest | 1864 | |
| $10,000 | Federal Reserve Note | 1918 | |
| $10,000 | Federal Reserve Note | 1928 | |
| $10,000 | Gold Certificate | 1934 |
Spencer Clark - Superintendent of the National Currency Bureau
| $0.05 | Fractional Currency | Third Issue |
William Clark - Lewis and Clark Expedition
| $10 | Legal Tender | 1901 |
Henry Clay - 9th Secretary of State
| $50 | Legal Tender | 1869 |
DeWitt Clinton - U.S. Senator
| $1,000 | Legal Tender | 1880 |
William Crawford - Secretary of the War & Treasury Departments
| $0.50 | Fractional Currency | Fifth Issue |
Stephen Decatur - Naval Captain in War of 1812
| $20 | Silver Certificate | 1880 |
Samuel Dexter - Secretary of the War & Treasury Departments
| $0.50 | Fractional Currency | Fourth Issue |
Edward Everett - 20th Secretary of State
| $50 | Silver Certificate | 1880 | |
| $50 | Silver Certificate | 1891 |
William Fessenden - 26th Secretary of the Treasury
| $0.25 | Fractional Currency | Third Issue |
Robert Fulton - Inventor
| $2 | Silver Certificate (reverse) | 1896 |
Albert Gallatin - 4th Secretary of the Treasury
| $500 | Legal Tender | 1862 |
David Farragut - Admiral in U.S. Navy
| $100 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 |
Winfield Hancock - Civil War General
| $2 | Silver Certificate | 1886 |
Thomas Hendricks - 21st Vice President of the U.S.
| $10 | Silver Certificate | 1908 |
Michael Hillegas - 1st Treasurer of the U.S.
| $10 | Gold Note | 1922 |
John Knox - Deputy Comptroller of Currency
| $100 | National Bank Note 3rd Charter | 1902 |
Meriwether Lewis - Lewis and Clark Expedition
| $10 | Legal Tender | 1901 |
Daniel Manning - Secretary of the Treasury
| $20 | Silver Certificate | 1891 |
Joseph Mansfield - Civil War Major General
| $500 | Legal Tender | 1880 |
William Marcy - Secretary of War & Secretary of State
| $1,000 | Silver Certificate | 1880 | |
| $1,000 | Silver Certificate | 1891 |
John Marshall - 4th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
| $20 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 | |
| $500 | Federal Reserve Note | 1918 |
Hugh McCulloch - 27th & 36th Secretary of the Treasury
| $20 | National Bank Note 3rd Charter | 1902 |
James McPherson - Union Army General
| $2 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 |
George Meade - Union General
| $1,000 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 |
William Meredith - 19th Secretary of the Treasury
| $0.10 | Fractional Currency | Fifth Issue |
Robert Morris - Signer of the Declaration of Independence
| $1,000 | Legal Tender | 1863 | |
| $10 | Silver Certificate | 1880 |
Samuel Morse - Inventor
| $2 | Silver Certificate (reverse) | 1896 |
Winfield Scott - U.S. Army General 1814-1861
| $100 | Compound Interest | 1864 |
William Seward - 24th Secretary of State
| $50 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 |
Philip Sheridan - Union Army Commander in Chief
| $10 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 | |
| $5 | Silver Certificate (reverse) | 1896 |
John Sherman - Secretary of the Treasury and State
| $50 | National Bank Note 3rd Charter | 1902 |
William Sherman - Civil War General
| $0.15 | Fractional Currency | Third Issue | |
| $500 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 |
Francis Spinner - Treasurer of the United States
| $0.50 | Fractional Currency | Third Issue |
Edwin Stanton - 27th Secretary of War
| $0.50 | Fractional Currency | Fourth Issue | |
| $1 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 |
Charles Sumner - U.S. Senator
| $500 | Silver Certificate | 1880 |
Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka - Sioux Indian Chief (a.k.a. Running Antelope)
| $5 | Silver Certificate | 1899 |
George Thomas - Union Army General
| $5 | Treasury Coin Note | 1891 |
Robert Walker - 18th Secretary of the Treasury
| $0.25 | Fractional Currency | Fifth Issue |
Martha Washington - 1st Lady of the U.S.
| $1 | Silver Certificate | 1891 | |
| $1 | Silver Certificate (reverse) | 1896 |
Daniel Webster - 14th & 19th Secretary of State
| $10 | Legal Tender | 1880 |
William Windom - 33rd & 39th Secretary of the Treasury
| $2 | Silver Certificate | 1899 |
Silas Wright - U.S. Senator
| $50 | Gold Certificate | 1882 |