The Presidents in Your Wallet (2024)

FAQs

What are the presidents on money? ›

$500 Federal Reserve Notes

The Federal Reserve Board issues $500 bills that feature President William McKinley's portrait. These circulate for roughly two decades and remains legal tender.

All U.S. currency remains legal tender, regardless of when it was issued.

The original $1,000 bill featured Alexander Hamilton on the front. When someone presumably realized that it might be confusing to have the same former Secretary of the Treasury on multiple denominations, Hamilton's portrait was replaced with that of a president—the 22nd and 24th, Grover Cleveland.

Featuring President Woodrow Wilson, the $100,000 bill was initiated by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing under the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the hoarding of gold during the Great Depression, believed to be slowing economic regrowth.

Unless it has a unique feature, like a low serial number or misprint, a newer $2 bill likely isn't worth much more than $2, even if it's uncirculated.

The United States no longer issues bills in larger denominations, such as $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills. But they are still legal tender and may still be in circulation.

Although $2 bills are rare to find, if you own one, there's a chance it has a high value. Based on specific factors, some versions of the currency may be worth up to $5,000, per the US Currency Price Guide. FOX 13 Tampa reported that these bills were discontinued by 1966 but brought back 10 years later.

It is U.S. government policy that all designs of Federal Reserve notes remain legal tender, or legally valid for payments, regardless of when they were issued. This policy includes all denominations of Federal Reserve notes, from 1914 to present as per 31 U.S.C. § 5103.

That's why stores can selectively decide to accept $100 bills or not accept anything larger than a $20 bill. Strictly speaking a $100 bill A series from 2006 is still worth $100 compared to a $100 from 2017. Why is that?, because the federal reserve has declared the bank notes face value to be $100.

Are silver dollars still valid? ›

What Is a Silver Certificate Dollar Bill Worth Today? These certificates no longer carry monetary value as an exchange for silver, yet they are still legal tender at their face value. In the market, silver certificates are often worth more than their face value (e.g., $1) as collectors still seek out these prints.

Today, the general public is still largely unfamiliar with the notes because they are not widely circulated and continue to be hoarded. The common misconception that the $2 note is no longer being produced also remains, though $2 notes have been printed since 1862, except for a 10-year hiatus between 1966 and 1976.

The Federal Reserve Board currently issues $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes. The largest denomination Federal Reserve note ever issued for public circulation was the $10,000 note.

The $100 note features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the front of the note and a vignette of Independence Hall on the back of the note. Phrases from the Declaration of Independence and the quill the Founding Fathers used to sign the historic document are found to the right of the portrait.

A: While many U.S. bills feature presidents, there's no rule that they have to. Benjamin Franklin was chosen due to his significant contributions to American history.

The $2 note features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the front of the note and a vignette depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back of the note.

A Living Person May Not Appear on U.S. Currency

Ever heard U.S. currency called “dead presidents?” To avoid the appearance of a monarchy, it was long-standing tradition to only feature portraits of deceased individuals on currency and coin. That tradition became law with an 1866 Act of Congress.