We could be in for a new currency series, even if without a redesign

If a new President gets elected, we could likely expect to see a new series year on our paper currency if he picks a new Secretary of the Treasury and Treasurer. Probably a Series 2013, because I doubt the next President would have time to change the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Treasurer as soon as this year. But it took Obama a while to choose a Treasurer, because I have heard that the Treasurer is not really that important of an issue, however, they could also just continue printing Series 2009 until the next round of redesigns are under way.

What do you guys think?

 

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There's nearly always a new series every year there's a new president (2009, 2001, 1993, 1981, 1977, ...). The only recent exception has been 1989, because Bush sr. kept on the Secretary and Treasurer from Reagan's administration.

In recent years, the Treasurer's office does tend to stay vacant for an extended period at the start of a new administration. Between that and the time it takes for the BEP to engrave new printing plates, it usually takes quite a while for the new series to get started:

• Series 2009 - first printed December 2009 (11 months into Obama's term)
• Series 2001 - first printed November 2001 (10 months into Bush's term)
• Series 1993 - first printed April 1994 (15 months into Clinton's term)
• Series 1981 - first printed July 1981 (6 months into Reagan's term)
• Series 1977 - first printed September 1977 (8 months into Carter's term)

Thus even if Obama loses the election, we could easily be looking at Series 2009 production for most (or all) of 2013.

On the other hand, if Obama is reelected, then it's possible that Series 2009 could continue for years longer. But at some point one begins to wonder how long Rios and Geithner are going to want to stay in office; one or both might decide not to stick around for a second term. They've had fairly long terms already--indeed, if both of them remain in office through this year, then Obama will be the first president since Eisenhower to serve a full four-year term with only one set of currency signers!

The quickest way to get a new series would probably be if Obama is reelected, Geithner decides to resign, and Rios stays in office. The Secretary of the Treasury is too important an official for that office to be left vacant for long, so Geithner's successor would be installed quickly, and a new series with signatures Rios-whoever could get into production within a few months.

 

I wonder what the turn over time is at the BEP. I know they don't need to completely engrave the entire plate since the master doesn't include signatures. Though they will need to make all new printing plates from the masters. However, if Ron Paul gets elected - LOOK OUT we're going to need new masters! We'll probably switch to U.S. Notes till we earn back that gold & silver, and get back to Gold & Silver Certs.
These are interesting times indeed! If anyone other than Ron gets elected it will be business as usual, and we can all go back to sleep and keep on wishing the Federal Reserve is not a scam, and Fort Knox is full of U.S. Gold.

 

In recent years it's typically about three months from the time both signers are in office until the BEP starts printing currency with the new signature combination. That's for the first denomination, most often the $1; after that, other denominations are phased in at the rate of one every month or two.