Who Is on the $20 Bill

Who’s on the $20 Bill? Discover the Facts

About the Author

Jonathan M. Clay is an American historian and monetary researcher who is an expert on the history of U.S. paper money, so he can easily answer questions like “who is on the 20 dollar bill” or “20$ bill president”.

Jonathan has a degree in American history and analyzes changes in the design of U.S. currency. Clay is a regular contributor to discussions on the visual identity of U.S. banknotes, and consults with museums and collectors on the authenticity and rarity of banknotes.

Who Is on a 20 Dollar Bill Right Now?

American currency is part of the national identity. Banknotes depict significant figures, and this is no exception, but its design is still controversial. Who’s on a 20 dollar bill or what president is on the 20 dollar bill? The answer is simple and unchanged for more than a century: it is Andrew Jackson.

7th President on 20 Dollar Banknote

The Andrew Jackson 20 dollar bill first appeared in 1928, when the design of banknotes was updated by the U.S. Treasury Department to a modern format. Since then, he’s become the permanent “face” of the old $20 bill, sparking lively discussions about his historical legacy.

So, if you were still not aware of who is on the $20 dollar bill or wondered what president is on the $20 bill, you may be surprised: it is far from Lincoln or Grant, but Jackson. His image with his wavy hair and stern look is familiar to anyone who uses the US 20 dollar bill in everyday calculations.

Harriet Tubman 20 Dollar Bill: When Is the Change?

Now we have found out which president is on the 20 dollar bill, but what is wrong with this design and who will be on it in the future? After all, the question of who is on the $20 dollar bill may get a very different answer in the coming years.

The project to replace Andrew Jackson on the Harriet Tubman $20 bill became one of the most talked about initiatives to redesign U.S. currency over the past decade. Yet the question remains: when will Harriet Tubman be on the $20 bill?

What about a New $20 Bill Design?

Since 2015, supporters of Harriet Tubman on 20 dollar bill have pushed to replace Jackson with Tubman. During the Women on 20s campaign, she received the most votes in a people’s poll on who’s on the 20 dollar bill in future issues.

Harriet Tubman was to be the first African-American woman featured on the new 20 bill. However, under the subsequent administration, the project was suspended, but today the effort to issue a $20 bill Harriet Tubman is back on.

What is known:

  • Old $20 dollar bill president design will be replaced to the backside, while Tubman will replace Jackson on the front side
  • Introduced “Harriet Tubman Tribute Act of 2025” – a counterpart to senate bill 20 Texas, which enjoins the release of all new $20 dollar bills after December 31, 2030.
  • The first batches of notes are expected to be in circulation in early 2031.
  • Notes with previous design will be gradually withdrawn from circulation, although they will retain face value and will be of interest to collectors as old $20 dollar bill worth money.

Thus, the new $20 dollar bill release date remains undetermined, which puzzles the proponents of change.  After all, the question is not only who’s on the $20 bill in terms of aesthetics, but also in rethinking who should be. Harriet Tubman – a well-known symbol of the struggle for freedom, human rights and social justice.

Why Is Andrew Jackson on the $20 Bill?

It would seem that this question about the $20 dollar banknote design is quite simple, but it does not have an obvious answer, so it is necessary to look into the past and evaluate his role in the history of the United States and his attitude to paper money.

Historical Context: Jackson’s Role in U.S. Currency

Andrew Jackson – the 7th president on the 20 dollar bill – was not chosen for the banknote by chance. His figure is connected with populism and democracy issues in the United States.

Despite his ambiguous attitude to paper money, in 1928 the Treasury Department decided to place his portrait on the redesigned $20 banknote as part of the modernization of the U.S. currency.

Reasons why he was on the $20 dollar bill:

  • Military hero – hero of the Battle of New Orleans (1812).
  • Popular leader – stood up to elites, represented the ordinary people.
  • Strengthened presidential power.

It was because of his popular support and recognizability that his figure and portrait became the answer to the question: who is on the 20 bill.

Criticism: Opposition to Paper Money and Slavery Ties

However, the image of Jackson whose face is on the $20 bill is often criticized. He was a fierce opponent of paper money – ironically, his face adorns a note that he viewed negatively.

Main points of criticism of the president whos on the $20 bill:

  • Eliminated the Second Bank of the United States, believing paper money was a harm.
  • Supported slavery.
  • Initiated the removal of indigenous peoples (Indian Removal Act).

These facts make one wonder not only why Jackson is on the banknote, but also who on the 20 dollar bill should take up space in the future. As discussions and plans for the redesign continue, interest in the notes themselves – especially those considered rare – is growing.

Rare & Valuable $20 Banknotes

Sometimes the face value of 20 dollars is worth far more: when it comes to historical issues and rare printing errors. Below are examples of 20 dollar bills worth money that greatly exceed the denomination.

1. 1863 $20 Gold Certificate

  • First issue: during the Civil War
  • Type: gold certificate
  • Features: one of the first federal issues, golden yellow seal color, extremely rare – less than 5 known in private hands
  • Estimated value: $195,500 to $480,000 depending on condition

This banknote is one of the earliest attempts by the U.S. government to issue paper money backed by gold. Despite the fact that it does not look like the familiar $20 note design with Andrew Jackson, it was such banknotes that became the ancestors of the modern dollar. The collector value of such a bill is very high and depends on its condition.

2. 1905 $20 Gold Certificate “Technicolor Note”

  • Type: gold certificate
  • Features: considered one of the most beautiful U.S. banknotes, has bright orange and red color palette, limited mintage.
  • Estimated value: $5,000 to $70,500 depending on condition

This bill is one of the most colorful and rare gold certificates. It depicts George Washington, which may surprise those who wondered whos on the $20 bill in the early series. This one stands out for its rich orange-red color palette (because of which it earned its nickname).

The one shows who was on the 20 dollar bill before Andrew Jackson and is an excellent choice for collectors who appreciate artistic expression.

3. 1928B $20 Bill with Star

  • Star instead of one letter in the serial number
  • Feature: replaced bill, instead of ones with printing errors
  • Estimated value: $500 to $4,000 and up.

So-called 20 dollar bills with star are banknotes issued to replace defective copies. They are easily recognized by the star in the serial number. Especially valuable are ones of old series and with low numbers.

Some of them can be worth from $500 to $4,000, and unique specimens can be worth even more. For a more accurate assessment of authenticity and value, you can use $20 bill serial number lookup services.

4. 1934 $20 Hawaii Overprint Note

  • Specialty: large red “HAWAII” seal on both sides
  • Rarity: issued only for use in Hawaii during martial law
  • Estimated value: $100-$800, depending on grade

This is a typical example of wartime banknotes printed for use under special conditions. If the islands fell under occupation, this money would easily be declared invalid.

Today, collectors sorting out whos on the $20 bill in different regions of the U.S. hunt for such specimens because of their historical context and relative rarity.

5. 1914 $20 Federal Reserve Note (Red Seal, Philadelphia District)

  • Specialty: red District 1 (Philadelphia) seal and serial number
  • Rarity: early FRN issues with red seals are rare.
  • Estimated value: $600-$3,500 depending on condition and signature

One of the first printed Federal Reserve Notes, where who’s on the 20 dollar bill did not yet decide the fate of the design: it was more important to belong to the first Federal Reserve. In high grades such examples reach the $3,500 mark due to their historical role and recognition.

Error Notes: Rare Mistakes on the $20 Bill

Erroneous banknotes are often the most expensive, making it to the most expensive and valuable $20 dollar bill errors list. Below you will see a few examples of real rarities.

1. 1993 $20 Double Denomination Error

  • Error: the obverse is issued at $20, the reverse at $10
  • Rarity: there are less than a dozen of these copies in circulation.
  • Estimated value: up to $55,000 for a banknote in Extremely Fine condition.

This double-sided “hybrid” bill is a real sensation for collectors. Due to a factory malfunction when combining the forms, one banknote got fragments of two denominations at once: 20 dollar design on the face side and the ten one on the back side. At rare auctions such copies go for a price comparable to rare gold certificates.

2. 2004A $20 Dollar Bill – “Del Monte Note”

  • Mistake: green Del Monte banana sticker accidentally printed on a banknote
  • Totally unique
  • One of the most famous examples of the error note
  • Estimated value: $396,000 (recorded auction sale)

This bill is the real star of the collecting world. Yes, it is a modern twenty with Andrew Jackson – the answer to the question of who is in the 20 dollar bill has not changed, but the value of this error is enormous. In 2021, the note sold at auction for $396,000.

3. 2001 $20 Bill Misaligned Border Error

  • Error: displacement of the printing frame on the front side – the edge of the image is partially cut off
  • Rarity: extremely rare among 2001 20 dollar bill examples.
  • Estimated value: up to $3,500 depending on degree of misalignment and condition.

In most banknotes, the frame fits tightly, but in this case, the printing plate is shifted, and part of the decorative border is outside the paper. Externally, such a banknote immediately catches the eye. Collectors appreciate such specimens for the purity of the error itself and the absence of restorers’ interventions.

How to Spot a Fake $20 Bill

If you are interested in twenties and collecting, it would make sense to know what their authenticity says about them. $20 counterfeits are the most common in the United States. But distinguishing a fake is easy if you know how to tell if a 20 dollar bill is real:

  • Watermark: to the right of Andrew Jackson’s portrait
  • Protective thread: with USA TWENTY inscription, luminous under UV.
  • Microprint: “USA20” visible under a magnifying glass.
  • Iridescent ink: the number 20 changes color.
  • Paper texture: thick, with characteristic “roughness”.

The best way is to compare a questionable banknote with an obviously genuine one. Even small differences are a reason to be wary.

It’s funny: the Canadian 20 dollar bill looks different – it depicts Queen Elizabeth II, and the security system is completely different.

FAQs

The banknote now features Andrew Jackson, but earlier $20s featured others – Cleveland, Hamilton, and even a woman: Martha Washington on early silver certificates. The designs have changed. A 20 dollar Harriet Tubman note is planned for the future, with issuance expected by 2031.

Pre-1950s ones can cost anywhere from $50 to $1000+. The price depends on condition, rarity and year. One way to find out the approximate value is to use a $20 dollar bill serial number lookup value through special online databases.