The United States of America has a rich history that is depicted in various forms, including its currency. One of the most widely circulated denominations of U.S. currency is the five-dollar bill, which features several iconic symbols of American history on its back. One of the most intriguing features of the back of the five-dollar bill is the depiction of only 26 states, despite there being 50 states in the Union. The reason for this design choice can be traced back to the history of the five-dollar bill and the development of the United States as a nation.
The current design of the five-dollar bill was introduced in 2008 and features the portrait of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, on the front. The back of the bill depicts several notable symbols of American history, including the Lincoln Memorial, which is located in Washington D.C. The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States and serves as a symbol of unity and democracy.
The depiction of only 26 states on the back of the five-dollar bill can be traced back to the time when the Lincoln Memorial was constructed. The construction of the Lincoln Memorial began in 1914 and was completed in 1922. At the time, there were only 48 states in the United States, and the design of the Lincoln Memorial was created to reflect this fact. The back of the memorial features the names of the 36 states that were in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death in 1865.
When the design for the five-dollar bill was created in 1928, it was based on the design of the Lincoln Memorial. The back of the bill was designed to feature the same 36 states that were depicted on the Lincoln Memorial, along with the District of Columbia and the territories of Alaska and Hawaii. The territories were not yet states at the time, but their inclusion on the bill was a symbol of the United States’ commitment to expansion and growth.
However, the design of the five-dollar bill changed in 1950 when Puerto Rico became a United States territory. Puerto Rico was not included on the original design of the five-dollar bill, and its inclusion meant that there were now 49 states and territories represented on the bill. The design of the bill was changed to feature the 48 states and the District of Columbia, with Alaska and Hawaii being represented by their territorial seals.
The final change to the design of the five-dollar bill came in 1959 when Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union as states. The inclusion of these two states on the bill meant that there were now 50 states and territories in the United States. However, the design of the five-dollar bill remained the same, featuring only 26 states on the back. This decision was made to maintain the continuity of the design of the bill and to honor the original design of the Lincoln Memorial.
In conclusion, the depiction of only 26 states on the back of the five-dollar bill is a result of the design of the Lincoln Memorial, which was constructed at a time when there were only 48 states in the Union. The design of the five-dollar bill was based on the design of the Lincoln Memorial and originally featured 36 states along with the District of Columbia and the territories of Alaska and Hawaii. The design of the bill was changed to feature the 48 states and the District of Columbia after Puerto Rico became a territory, and the inclusion of Alaska and Hawaii was represented by their territorial seals. Despite there being 50 states and territories in the United States, the design of the five-dollar bill remains the same, featuring only 26 states on the back, to maintain the continuity of the original design of the Lincoln Memorial.