Alright folks, just had a random thought hit me this morning while paying for coffee. That crumpled dollar bill in my hand – who exactly is the dude staring back at me? And does every bill have a president? Seriously blanked for a second. Figured I’d dig into it myself right then and there. Let’s see how it went down.
First thing, I totally guessed wrong. Pulled out my wallet like it held state secrets. Unfolded a crummy one-dollar bill from the depths. “Oh, easy one,” I mumbled confidently. George Washington. Everyone knows that face, right? Strong start. Felt pretty smart for all of three seconds.
Then came the five-dollar bill. My brain went, “Abraham Lincoln! Boom! Done!” Only… hang on. Is that actually him? Pulled out my phone real quick for backup, thumb sticky from coffee. Yup, Abraham Lincoln stares back from the fiver. Still feeling okay.
Now the ten. Pulled it out, crisp and green. Hmm… someone with fluffy hair. Kinda aristocratic-looking. Andrew Jackson? Thomas Jefferson? My brain fizzed like flat soda. Had to Google “president on ten dollar bill” right there by the sink. Duh! Alexander Hamilton. Smacked my forehead. “He wasn’t even president!” Yeah, caught that mistake. Already off track.
Pulled out the old Jackson. Twenty bucks. Scanned that stern face. Okay, I got this one. Andrew Jackson. Pretty sure I learned that somewhere. Phone confirmed it. Solid.
Then came the fifty. Flashed Grant’s beard on that big bill. Another gut-feeling win: Ulysses S. Grant. Go me. Two in a row!
Finally, the big boy – the hundred. Held it up. “Benjamin Franklin… wait. Did he?” Crap. Doubt kicked in. Forced to search “president on hundred dollar bill.” Got the answer: still Benjamin Franklin. Sigh of relief. But reminder: Founding Father, not President. Another trap I almost fell into.
Got curious about the obscure ones then. Rummaged through drawers like a squirrel hunting nuts. Found an ancient $2 bill I got as a kid. Who’s that? Flip phone pics didn’t help. Googled it. Thomas Jefferson? Huh. Completely forgot we had two-dollar bills!
All this messing around gave me my final checklist. Made it simple for myself:
- $1: George Washington (The OG, everyone got this)
- $2: Thomas Jefferson (Forgotten ghost bill)
- $5: Abraham Lincoln (Solid, reliable)
- $10: Alexander Hamilton (Not a president! Crucial detail)
- $20: Andrew Jackson (Controversial face)
- $50: Ulysses S. Grant (The big beard energy)
- $100: Benjamin Franklin (Smart guy, also not POTUS)
Turns out it’s not all presidents – Hamilton and Franklin broke the mold. Just spent like thirty minutes staring at money with my phone lighting up like a Christmas tree. Hope this saves someone from my coffee-stained confusion! Sometimes you gotta get hands-on with the basics.
