United States: Redesigning the $10 bill by adding a woman
U.S. Department of the Treasury
United States currency — and the images of great leaders and landmarks they depict — has long been a way to honor our past and express our values. In 2013, we selected the $10 note for redesign based on a number of factors.
The next generation of currency will revolve around the theme of democracy. The first note, the new $10, will feature a notable woman. In keeping with that theme, it’s important that you make your voice heard. Use #TheNew10 to tell us your ideas, symbols, designs or any other feedback that can inform the Secretary as he considers options for the $10 redesign.
___
Video: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew has announced that the Treasury will redesign the $10 note to feature the face of a woman who contributed to the development of democracy in the United States.
___
Video: The Goals of Redesigning Currency
There is a dual purpose to redesigning our currency.
___
1914
The first $10 Federal Reserve note measured 7.375 x 3.125 inches and featured a portrait of President Andrew Jackson on the front and a vignette of farming and industry on the reverse. These images were chosen as a representation of the expansion of the United States.
1929
A New Face for the $10
In 1929, the size of the note was reduced to 6.14 x 2.61 inches. The portrait changed to feature the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and the vignette on the reverse was changed to feature the United States Treasury Building. These images were utilized during a particularly turbulent time in United States’ economic history. The statuesque representations on this note are designed to restore faith in economic power of the United States and currency during the economic crash of 1929 and subsequent period, known as the Great Depression.
1999-2000
Security Features Introduced
The $10 Federal Reserve note, issued between 1990 and 2000, retained the portrait of Secretary Hamilton and the vignette of the Treasury Building. The design incorporated security features such as microprinting and a security thread that glows orange when illuminated by ultraviolet light. These features were designed in response to the advent of modern copiers, which allowed for easier reproduction for forgers. The improvements could not be duplicated utilizing most standard copier machines.
2000-2006
Watermark and Color-Shifting
The $10 Federal Reserve note, issued between 2000 and 2006, incorporated a portrait watermark and a color-shifting numeral 10, in addition to the security thread and microprinting. The vignette on the reverse featured a slightly different image of the Treasury Building.
2006-Current
Symbols of Freedom
The $10 Federal Reserve note, issued in 2006, includes the same key security features and contains new background colors of orange, yellow, and red. The note also features symbols of freedom: the Statue of Liberty’s torch and We the People from the Constitution of the United States of America. These images were incorporated into the design to portray the United States as a source of stability and freedom.
