Notes for the Graphic Designer of the American One Dollar Bill (2024)

FAQs

Who designed the dollar bill? ›

Who Designs the Bills? Bills are designed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which is a part of the U.S. Treasury. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is in charge of designing and printing the bills we all use every day. Artists at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing work together to create every bill.

The $1 note features a portrait of George Washington on the front of the note and an image of the Great Seal of the United States on the back of the note.

The U.S. Mint first made the dollar in 1794. It was made of silver and showed a woman who represented liberty on the obverse with an eagle on the reverse. For more than 170 years, different Liberty and eagle designs were used on the dollar.

Washington is a Founding Father and is often referred to as the “father of the country.” It's no surprise that he was chosen to be featured on the US's most popular bill. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints more than 16 million new one-dollar bills every single day.

The letter K in that position indicates that the bill originated at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, TX. (

Red seal dollars emerged during the Civil War and maintained their presence for a century, standing as a testament to their longevity in circulation. These notes represented a direct obligation of the U.S. government, implying ownership of a fraction of the national debt.

The Latin Around the Pyramid Speaks To American Exceptionalism. “Annuit Coeptis,” which is written above the pyramid, means “Providence Has Favored Our Undertakings.” Below the pyramid, the words “Novus ordo seclorum” mean “A New Order of the Ages,” which refers to the United States' historic form of government.

In the center, some people believe there is a carpenter's T-square, a tool used for an even cut. But that image is actually a chevron with 13 stars representing the 13 original colonies. Underneath is a key that is intended to represent a symbol of authority. If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles.

A Revolutionary American creation, the Great Seal is a unique combination of natural elements (eagle, olive branch, stars, cloud, light rays, eye) and universal symbols (pyramid, arrows, shield). If you look at the left-and circle of the Great Seal, you will see a pyramid.

Although $2 bills are rare to find, if you own one, there's a chance it has a high value. Based on specific factors, some versions of the currency may be worth up to $5,000, per the US Currency Price Guide. FOX 13 Tampa reported that these bills were discontinued by 1966 but brought back 10 years later.

Can I get a $500 bill from the bank? ›

The United States no longer issues bills in larger denominations, such as $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills. But they are still legal tender and may still be in circulation. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing creates U.S. paper currency. Learn about paper money and how to recognize counterfeit currency.

However, $2 bills are considered rare in comparison to our other currency and have even been known to be worth thousands of dollars. There are a number of factors that can make your $2 worth more than $2. First, there are one of two Founding Fathers that may appear on it: Alexander Hamilton or Thomas Jefferson.

Look at the Federal Reserve and Treasury Seals. The pointy "teeth" around their edges should be clear and sharp, instead of muddled or hazy. Look at the intricate lines in the bill's border. Genuine bills have scrollwork that is highly defined, but the margins of counterfeit bills may be broken, fuzzy or indistinct.

Salmon P. Chase graced the front of the first dollar bill, which was issued in 1862. As the treasury secretary under President Abraham Lincoln, he was a fitting choice to usher in this new and modern type of paper currency.

1885. Tiffany redesigns the Great Seal of the United States. It appears on the dollar bill to this day and enables everyone to carry a Tiffany design in their wallets.

Brian A. Thompson has been a Banknote Designer for over thirty 36 years , where he currently works at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Brian designed the front of the new fifty-dollar bill and he has designed the brand new one hundred dollar bill from its entirety.

We have George Washington on the $1 bill, Thomas Jefferson on the $2 bill, Abraham Lincoln on the $5, Andrew Jackson on the $20, and Ulysses S. Grant on the $50. Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin were never presidents, but they are featured on the $10 and $100 bill, respectively.