Friday, June 19, 2015
The new face of the $10 bill
The U.S.
Treasury Department has recently announced its plan to put a woman’s portrait
on the $10 bill. This monumental decision will replace Alexander Hamilton, and
will be the first time a female is printed on U.S. paper currency. The new bills
will begin circulation in 2020. In the past, famous female Americans have only
been printed on limited edition coins. The U.S. will finally catch up to the
many other countries who already present women on their currency. Countries
such as, Syria, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, Sweden, England, and Australia, have
banknotes with faces of women on them. It is disappointing that it took the
U.S. this long to come to the decision. It is the year 2015, yet women are
still playing catch up to their male counterparts.
Secretary
of the Treasury, Jacob J. Lew, asked for the publics’ comments on the announcement.
The public took to social media to voice their opinions and concerns. The woman
on the bill needs to have played a major role in U.S. history. Some believe the
bill should display Harriett Tubman, the trailblazer of the Underground Railroad.
Others believe it should depict the famous social reformer and feminist, Susan
B. Anthony. I do not think the Treasury Department can make a wrong choice
since they have so many valid options. Whatever the final decision may be, it
will be a step in the right direction.
