New Currency Subjects

I would put any personification of Liberty as a serious design on the bills.

If the state of the dollar continues to have a slow downward slide, I would suggest "Alfred E. Neuman" of the MAD comics. Underneath this face, we would have the phrase, "What me Worry?":smile

 

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Regrettably your post gets lost in all the cabal about the merits or otherwise of a couple of individuals whom over 40 years after their deaths still evoke very strong opinions.

Back in the 19th - early 20th century American currency reflected technological advances, historical events and the ideals of liberty. Like our liberties, the currency has eroded and become a monument for political notions and not ideals of what makes America great.

That is where Canada is different as you note, the War Memorial on the $10, the hockey game on the reverse of the $5. They are Canada past and present, whereas the USA currency is buried in the past. In choosing a format for currency, there should be a blending of past and present, and also aspirations for the future ideals.

I challenge every American to name one, just one, real accomplishment that Andrew Jackson(19th century ethnic cleanser of Native Americans) on the $20 did, or that Alexander Hamilton(more memorable for getting popped off by Aaron Burr) on the $10 did. US Grant, oh sure he was a general, but he was a miserable president that accomplished nothing during his presidency. Really only three individuals are worthy of such an esteemed honour of having their visages on our paper money, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin Franklin. All the others should be consigned to historical memory.

 

Well, I certainly won't list all the things about them here, as anyone that can read this can read wikipedia as well. Perhaps there they will find out which one wasn't a president.

I agree there is a bit of ignorance of those two persons, however, there are skeletons in closets of even those to whom history has been kind thus far. Just yesterday I read in my local paper (if you can believe it - after all, Wasn't it Jefferson who said "As for what is not true, you will always find abundance in the newspapers" ?) that Good old George Washington reputedly fleeced $450,000 in fees for his services in the Continental Army. Meh. Don't care. Fact is he's seen as a great leader and our first (elected) president. Forget that he didn't want to be on our money, he's there. Likely will be for as long as we mint-&-print.

While I like having some past presidents and statesmen on our notes, I do agree that a nice design change. Scroll through this: http://richardsmith.posterous.com/tag/dollarredeign?page=1 and be sure to check out the other pages links at the bottom. While there are many that are rather ugly and more that are just stupid, there are a few that can get your imagination going. I like these two for example:

 

Henry Ford did great things, he didn't. He only did things for blacks, not just for everybody. If you'd like to discuss this more, send me a pm. i'd rather not get polital here.

 

Educational Series

I agree 100% the "Educational Series" would be a tribute to all the US currency. The beauty & artistry have yet to be matched in all US currencies !
No more dead presidents please.

 

I challenge every American to name one, just one, real accomplishment that Andrew Jackson(19th century ethnic cleanser of Native Americans) on the $20 did, or that Alexander Hamilton(more memorable for getting popped off by Aaron Burr) on the $10 did. US Grant, oh sure he was a general, but he was a miserable president that accomplished nothing during his presidency. Really only three individuals are worthy of such an esteemed honour of having their visages on our paper money, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin Franklin. All the others should be consigned to historical memory.[/QUOTE]

Andrew Jackson-In 1835, Jackson managed to reduce the federal debt to only $33,733.05, the lowest it had been since the first fiscal year of 1791.[20] President Jackson is the only president in United States history to have paid off the national debt.oh yea, Jackson also had a son. An Indian, but he died at sixteen.Alexlander Hamilton- Helped found the U.S Mint (i think we all should be happy for that one)Grant was a civil war hero for the north. if it wasn't for him, the south could of won that war.

 

I agree that national accomplishments and depictions of Liberty are the best possible idea for paper currency. Once great accomplishment yet to be mentioned is space exploration...an accomplishment that hasn't been matched by any other nation in most respects.

I wouldn't go so far to say that the south would have won without Grant. The truth is, the South had much better Generals than the north...including Grant. They just lacked the manpower and infrastructure to win such a war.

 

The heck with all of those generals and presidents,scientists,boats,planes,spaceships and whom or whatever else. Put ME on a note!! Put on end to unsightly notes. ................................................John

 

That you know so "much" about Ford says volumes of your lack of genuine knowledge of Henry Ford. He was an industrialist that accomplished many great things in manufacturing, but his ideals of national leadership and race relationships were downright fearsomely rooted in 19th century mindset prejudices.

 

Thanks for an authentic and humourous twist to this thread which would otherwise be descending into the abyss of ignominy.

 

Henry Ford did many things for this country, such as raised pay from 2.50 a day to five a day. Henry Ford i think was a great man. Granted he maynot of been perfect. It was a different time, people didn't think the way they do now.

 

I would like to go back to the late 1800,s early 1900,s designs showing
Ships and trains, Great era for currency!!

 

OLD FRN 1914 backs

I would like to goback to the old backs of the FRN 1914 backs ,they were the real green backs !!!!

 

I like the post with the Washington and the Potomac. You have to keep in mind that the images on our bills in a global economy could greatly effect the nation in many ways.

 

Defiant Eagle

How about this defiant eagle ,powerful image on our nations currency !