The face gazing out from the United States twenty-dollar bill belongs to Andrew Jackson, the nation’s seventh president. Consider this: his portrait has occupied the center of the denomination since 1928, replacing Grover Cleveland, and has since become one of the most recognizable pieces of currency in global circulation. While the answer to who is the president on the 20 dollar bill is straightforward, the story behind his placement, the design evolution of the note, and the ongoing debate regarding his legacy adds layers of historical context that transform a simple piece of paper into a artifact of American identity.
The Man on the Bill: Andrew Jackson at a Glance
Before understanding why Jackson earned a spot on the $20 bill, it helps to understand the man himself. Born in 1767 in the Waxhaws region straddling North and South Carolina, Jackson was a frontier lawyer, a military hero, and a populist politician who styled himself as the champion of the "common man" against entrenched elites The details matter here..
His presidency (1829–1837) marked the rise of the Democratic Party and the era known as Jacksonian Democracy. He famously dismantled the Second Bank of the United States, viewing it as a tool of the wealthy, and survived the first assassination attempt on a sitting U.S. president. On the flip side, his legacy is deeply stained by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes—most infamously the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears—resulting in thousands of deaths. This duality—celebrated as a democratic icon by some, condemned as an architect of ethnic cleansing by others—fuels the modern controversy surrounding his place on U.Because of that, s. currency.
Why Andrew Jackson? The 1928 Currency Redesign
The decision to place Jackson on the twenty-dollar bill was not immediate. For decades prior, the denomination featured various figures, including Alexander Hamilton, Stephen Decatur, and James Garfield. Most notably, Grover Cleveland appeared on the $20 Federal Reserve Note from 1914 until the Series of 1928 Worth keeping that in mind..
The shift occurred during a major standardization of U.S. currency sizes in 1928. The Treasury Department sought to create a uniform "portrait gallery" of deceased presidents and statesmen across denominations. The logic followed a rough hierarchy of historical stature:
- $1: George Washington
- $2: Thomas Jefferson
- $5: Abraham Lincoln
- $10: Alexander Hamilton (First Treasury Secretary)
- $20: Andrew Jackson
- $50: Ulysses S.
Jackson was selected for the $20 slot likely due to his status as a two-term president, a war hero (Battle of New Orleans), and a transformative political figure who reshaped the executive branch. At the time, the atrocities of the Trail of Tears were often minimized or omitted from mainstream historical narratives, allowing his "Hero of New Orleans" persona to dominate the selection committee's perspective.
Easier said than done, but still worth knowing.
Evolution of the $20 Bill Design
The Andrew Jackson 20 dollar bill has undergone significant transformations since 1928, driven by advances in anti-counterfeiting technology and aesthetic updates And that's really what it comes down to..
The Small-Size Notes (1928–1996)
The Series of 1928 introduced the small-size notes we use today (6.14 x 2.61 inches). These early notes featured a green seal (Federal Reserve Notes) or gold/brown seals (Gold Certificates and National Bank Notes). The portrait was an engraving based on a painting by Thomas Sully. The reverse featured the White House, though the vignette differed slightly from the modern view, showing the South Lawn with less landscaping detail.
The "Big Head" Series (1996–2003)
In 1996, the Treasury unveiled a major redesign to combat sophisticated color copiers. This series introduced:
- Larger, off-center portrait: Jackson’s image was enlarged and shifted left to make room for a watermark.
- Color-shifting ink: The numeral "20" in the lower right corner shifts from green to black when tilted.
- Security thread: A vertical polymer strip embedded in the paper reading "USA TWENTY" visible under UV light.
- Microprinting: Tiny text ("USA20" or "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA") around the portrait and border.
- Updated Reverse: The White House vignette was flipped to show the North Portico (the main entrance), a view more familiar to the public.
The Series 2004 and 2009 (Subtle Refinements)
These series added subtle background colors—peach, blue, and yellow—to further deter counterfeiting. The oval frame around Jackson’s portrait was removed entirely, giving the engraving a more "floating" appearance. The EURion constellation (a pattern of five rings) was added to the reverse to prevent digital scanning.
The Current Series (2013–Present)
The most recent iteration, Series 2013 (and subsequent 2017A), features the most advanced security suite yet:
- 3D Security Ribbon: A blue ribbon woven into the paper (not printed) containing images of bells and "20"s that move as you tilt the note.
- Color-shifting Bell in the Inkwell: A copper-colored inkwell with a bell that shifts to green.
- Enhanced Portrait: The engraving of Jackson was refined using intaglio printing for sharper detail and tactile texture.
Throughout every series since 1928, the portrait of Andrew Jackson has remained the constant anchor on the obverse, while the White House has remained the standard on the reverse The details matter here..
The Harriet Tubman Redesign Controversy
No discussion of the president on the 20 dollar bill is complete without addressing the proposed replacement. But in 2016, the Obama administration announced a landmark plan to remove Jackson from the front of the $20 bill and replace him with Harriet Tubman, the famed abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad. Jackson would be moved to the reverse side, potentially incorporated into a White House scene.
This decision was driven by a desire to diversify American currency and honor a Black woman who fought for freedom, contrasting sharply with Jackson’s history as a slaveholder and his role in Native American removal That alone is useful..
Delays and Political Shifts
The rollout, initially targeted for 2020 (the centennial of the 19th Amendment), faced significant delays. The Trump administration Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, postponed the redesign, citing technical reasons regarding counterfeiting security and stating the focus would remain on the $10 and $50 notes first.
In January 2021, the Biden administration Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed the Treasury Department was "exploring ways to speed up" the Tubman $20 bill. On the flip side, as of the current date, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) continues the complex design and testing process. The production of a new Federal Reserve note involves years of engraving, substrate testing, and coordination with the Federal Reserve Board and vending/ATM industries. While the Tubman $20 is officially in the pipeline, a firm release date has not been finalized, meaning **Andrew Jackson remains the face of the denomination for the foreseeable future.
Security Features: How to Authenticate a $20 Bill
Because the $20 bill is the most counterfeited denomination in domestic circulation (often preferred by counterfeiters over the $100 due to lower scrutiny), knowing its security features is practical knowledge It's one of those things that adds up..
