Andrew Jackson is currently featured on the twenty-dollar bill ($20 bill) of United States currency. His portrait has occupied this denomination for nearly a century, though his tenure on federal paper money hasn't always been restricted to the twenty. Understanding how Jackson became the face of the $20 bill, why he might soon be replaced, and what his historical footprint means requires looking back at U.S. monetary policy.
The visual layout of American paper money changes infrequently, but the heritage behind these portraits is complex. While many Americans associate Jackson exclusively with the twenty-dollar note, historical redesigns, security updates, and shifting political priorities have constantly altered the look of circulating cash.
History of Andrew Jackson on U.S. Currency
Andrew Jackson didn't always adorn the $20 bill. When the federal government first introduced small-size Federal Reserve Notes in 1928, Jackson's portrait replaced Grover Cleveland on the twenty. Before that shift, Jackson's face actually appeared on the ten-dollar Federal Reserve Note starting in 1914.
The decision to swap figures on currency usually reflected Treasury department updates or the rotation of founding figures and presidents. Jackson, the seventh U.S. president, was chosen during an era when honoring populist political leaders on circulating notes was common practice. Over the decades, the twenty-dollar bill underwent multiple security overhauls—most notably in 1996 and 2006—which added watermarks, color-shifting inks, and security threads while keeping Jackson's likeness intact. For further information on the matter, extensive reporting is available at The New York Times.
Why Andrew Jackson Is Controversial
The inclusion of Jackson on modern currency has generated substantial public debate. Critics point to several aspects of his presidency that clash with modern ethical standards:
- The Indian Removal Act of 1830: Jackson championed policies that forced Native American nations from their ancestral lands, resulting in the tragic Trail of Tears.
- Opposition to Central Banking: Ironically, Jackson fiercely opposed the Second Bank of the United States, viewing centralized financial institutions as corrupting instruments of elite power—making his long-term presence on a central bank note a historical irony.
- Enslavement: Like many figures of his era, Jackson was a slaveholder, operating a large cotton plantation dependent on human bondage.
These controversies fueled decades of grassroots advocacy to remove him from circulation and replace him with a figure who better represents broader American ideals.
The Future: Harriet Tubman and the $20 Bill
Plans to redesign the $20 bill to feature abolitionist Harriet Tubman have been in motion for years. First announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2016, the redesign aims to place Tubman on the front of the note, making her the first African American and the first woman featured on modern U.S. paper currency. Under the original proposal, Jackson's image would move to the reverse side of the bill.
However, the transition faced numerous technical and administrative hurdles, delaying production timelines. Redesigning high-denomination currency requires extensive anti-counterfeiting development, meaning large-scale public rollout has experienced multiple pushed-back deadlines, with updated targets pointing toward the next decade. For official updates on currency redesigns, you can review announcements from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Andrew Jackson always feature on the $20 bill?
No. Before 1928, Grover Cleveland was on the $20 bill. Jackson originally appeared on the $10 Federal Reserve Note in 1914 before shifting to the twenty-dollar denomination.
When will Harriet Tubman replace Andrew Jackson?
While the Treasury initially proposed the change years ago, production delays and security redesign timelines have pushed the anticipated introduction of the Tubman $20 bill further out.
Will Andrew Jackson disappear from money entirely?
Initial redesign concepts planned to move Jackson's portrait to the back of the $20 bill rather than removing him from U.S. currency entirely, though final layout decisions remain subject to Bureau of Engraving and Printing guidelines.
Who decides whose face goes on U.S. money?
The Secretary of the Treasury holds primary authority over the redesign of U.S. paper currency, working alongside the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Federal Reserve. You can learn more about how banknotes are produced via the U.S. Currency Education Program.
