Fifty two prominent figures in American History are featured on United States bank notes from 1861 to the present. These men (and one woman) were almost entirely politicians and military figures. Many were lawyers, some judges, and two Chief Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Some you will recognize from the currency of today, some you may recognize from history books, and a few, perhaps, you have never seen before. To access a brief bio click on the portrait of interest below. The bios are still in development.

All portraits are from notes in the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution. The use of any bank note image from this exhibit (portrait or sample note) for any form of publication whatsoever must give image credit to National Numismatic Collection, Smithsonian Institution.