The United States $10 Bill

The United States $10 Bill is another denomination of U.S. money. On the front of the bill is a portrait of Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and on the back of the bill is a picture of the U.S. Treasury. According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the life span of a circulated $10 bill is about 18 months before it is replaced because of wear. About 11% of all newly printed U.S. paper currency are $10 bills and all $10 bills released today are Federal Reserve Notes.

The first $10 bill was released in 1861 as a Large-Sized Demand Note with a picture of Abraham Lincoln and a rhetorical figure representing art on the obverse. When 1862 came around, the first $10 United States Notes were issued with a front design similar with that of the 1861 Demand Note, but a partially revised back side. The first $10 Silver Certificate was released in 1878 printed in all black and had the word SILVER in large block letters. In 1886 another $10 Silver Certificate was issued containing a portrait of Thomas A. Hendricks on it. Michael Hillegas was featured on the obverse of the first $10 Gold Certificate released in 1907. Andrew Jackson was shown on the front of the first $10 Federal Reserve Note issued in 1914. The bill had vignettes, or pictures, of farming and industry on the back. The $10 Federal Reserve Bank Notes were released by 4 individual Federal Reserve Banks in 1915 and then reissued again in 1918 and they could only be redeemed at the identical bank at which it was released. Andrew Jackson became the new face of the $10 United States Note after it was redesigned in 1923.

In 1929, all U.S. money was changed to its current size because of the series of 1928. Under this, all $10 bills were to have a portrait of Alexander Hamilton on the front and the U.S. Treasury on the back. It was issued as a Federal Reserve Note that had a green seal and serial numbers and also as a Gold Certificate on which the serial numbers and seal were a golden color. Having a blue seal and serial numbers, the first small-sized $10 Silver Certificates were released in 1933 and then redesigned in 1934. During World War II, in 1942, special $10 bills were released for Hawaii and U.S. troops in North Africa. Both were printed so that if an enemy of the U.S. were to get a hold of it, it could be said to have no value. On a $10 Federal Reserve Note, HAWAII was printed on the obverse and reverse and the seal and serial numbers were turned brown. The serial numbers and seal were yellow instead of blue on the $10 Silver Certificates sent to North Africa.

Throughout the years, the $10 bills were changed slightly, especially in more recent years to prevent counterfeiting, but they still kept the same overall design. The newest $10 was released in 2006 with enhanced background colors and more features to prevent counterfeiting.