The only non-president to appear on US currency is Benjamin Franklin. He appears on the $100 bill, one of the highest denominations of US currency.
Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States and a renowned polymath. He was born in Boston in 1706 and grew up in a family of modest means. Despite limited formal education, he became a successful printer, writer, inventor, and statesman. Franklin is perhaps best known for his experiments with electricity and his role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
The decision to feature Franklin on the $100 bill was made in 1928, when the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing redesigned US currency to incorporate anti-counterfeiting measures. The $100 bill was chosen to feature Franklin because of his status as a founding father and his numerous contributions to American society.
The front of the $100 bill features a portrait of Franklin, along with the words “The United States of America” and “One Hundred Dollars.” The back of the bill features an image of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed.
In addition to his appearance on the $100 bill, Franklin has been featured on numerous other forms of US currency throughout history. He was depicted on the $5 bill from 1914 to 1928, and he appeared on the $50 bill from 1914 to 1928 as well as from 1991 to 1997. He has also been featured on US postage stamps and commemorative coins.
Despite his many accomplishments and contributions to American society, Franklin was not a president, which makes his appearance on US currency all the more unique. The United States has a long tradition of featuring presidents on its currency, dating back to the first paper currency issued by the Continental Congress in 1775. The first president to appear on US currency was George Washington, who was featured on the $1 bill in 1869.
Since then, every denomination of US currency has featured a president, with the exception of the $10 bill, which features Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers and the first Secretary of the Treasury. However, the design of the $10 bill is set to change in the near future, with plans to replace Hamilton’s portrait with that of a woman who has made significant contributions to American history.
In conclusion, the only non-president to appear on US currency is Benjamin Franklin. He appears on the $100 bill, which features his portrait on the front and an image of Independence Hall on the back. Franklin was chosen to appear on the $100 bill because of his status as a founding father and his many contributions to American society. Despite his numerous accomplishments, the tradition of featuring presidents on US currency has remained strong throughout US history.