US to feature a woman on new $10 bill

Image credit: frankieleon via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Exactly 100 years after the Constitution gave women the right to vote, the United States will release a new $10 bill in 2020 featuring a woman’s portrait. The woman, who is yet to be chosen, will replace founding father Alexander Hamilton. That being said, Hamilton will also be a part of the new design, though it is as yet unclear whether he will feature with the woman or on a different version of the new bill.

The last woman to appear on US paper currency was in 1896, when Martha Washington featured on the $1 silver certificate, so to say that this is long overdue would be an understatement.

The woman to feature on this new bill will be chosen by Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, though feedback from the public will be sought via various mediums – one of which is the twitter hashtag #TheNew10.

By law, the woman chosen needs to be deceased, though Lew has also stated that he would like someone who “has played a major role in our history who represents the theme of democracy.”

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who introduced legislation in April to get a woman featured on the $20 bill, released a statement praising the news.

“Today, those voices all across the country calling for the contributions of women to be honored on our paper currency, were heard and now change is happening…young girls across this country will soon be able to see an inspiring woman on the ten dollar bill who helped shape our country into what is today and know that they too can grow up and do something great for their country.”

The woman chosen to feature on this new bill will be announced at the end of the year.