AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

This one is no longer in circulation.

Money like history!

The designs on our bills are pretty much the same designs as 75 years ago. The designs are:

• $1 bill: George Washington/Great Seal of the United States
• $2 bill: Thomas Jefferson/Signing of the Declaration of Independence
• $5 bill: Abraham Lincoln/Lincoln Memorial
• $10 bill: Alexander Hamilton/ U.S. Treasury Building
• $20 bill: Andrew Jackson/White House
• $50 bill: Ulysses Grant/U.S. Capitol
• $100 bill: Benjamin Franklin/Independence Hall

The government has made bills for as much as $100,000.

Whose Face is on the Big Bills?

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C., prints all of the money we use. It used to produce a $100,000 bill, but no longer does. President Woodrow Wilson's portrait appeared on this high-value bill.

There are other big bills that are no longer in circulation.

• President William McKinley appeared on the $500 bill.
• President Grover Cleveland was on the $1,000 note.
• President James Madison was on the $5,000 note.
• Secretary of Treasury Salmon Chase was on the $10,000 bill.

Before the government picked these lucky guys in 1928, many different people appeared on the fronts of our bills...

What went before?

Before 1928, money would change its looks and its value whenever the government changed, which was often. Storeowners and their customers could never be sure of the bills in their hands! Which ones were real?

After years of confusion, disorder, and counterfeiting in our money system, the government decided that we needed a matching design on all our $1 bills, our $5 bills, and so on.

Having the same portraits on the fronts of all bills and the same scenes on the back is just one way that money is now safer from counterfeit and confusion. Many new features have been added to the bills to make money exchange easier, and to keep dishonest people from making and passing fake money.

Why not President Obama?

Maybe in a few hundred years...That answer is easy! Money in the United States cannot feature the portrait of a living person.

This is because of a law the government passed way back in 1866. There have been only a few exceptions to this rule.

The United States is not the only country to have this rule. Most of the money throughout the world either has national landmarks or the portraits of country leaders from long ago.

Until recently, Iraq was one of the only countries that had a living person on its money, the dinar.

The late dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was on almost all dinar bills during his rule.

New Laws in Iraq

Iraqi money no longer can include the picture of a living person. All old dinar with Saddam's portrait is worth nothing, as of Jan. 15, 2004.

The different fronts and backs of the new Iraqi dinar show waterfalls, old desert fortresses, mosques, famous writers, kings, and farmers.

Close

George's future

Some people think the paper dollar may be replaced by new things. They think plastic “money,” like debit and credit cards, will replace it entirely.

For now, there is no reason to worry that the bills we keep in our wallets will be worthless

And who knows, maybe you will design our money's next look.

Let's get creative!

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing may not be ready to let the public decide whose portrait should be next, but it will let you have a little fun designing your own bill online. Who would be on your $20 bill?

Close

So while you wait to see whose face you'll pay with next, let George and his pals take care of buying that tube sled for you.

Quick, before the snow melts!

Prestige Community Credit Union What makes credit unions so great? Members like you. Every dollar you invest in your credit union earns you money while other members borrow it. When you're ready for a loan, other members' savings will be there to help you out at the lowest possible cost.