We were excited to hear Harriet Tubman would be the first woman to cover U.S. currency. Now, we know why we won’t be able to get our hands on the new $20 bills until 2020. We've got the scoop directly from Secretary of the Treasury Jacob J. Lew. Find out what he said inside….
We were all squealing #BlackGirlMagic when it was announced that iconic abolitionist Harriet Tubman would be replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. It was then revealed the new $20’s wouldn’t be available until 2020.
So what’s the hold up? Some folks around the net were up in arms with the belief they were purposely making us wait. We even saw a few comments that the new $20's would never come into fruition anyway. But we've learned it's definitely happening, and there's a couple significant reasons behind the wait.
During a conference call with Secretary of the Treasury Jacob J. Lew, TheYBF.com learned about the exact process of printing new bills and why it takes so long to do so. Especially these days. And it's all because of the intricate process of printing currency.
Secretary Lew shared:
“It’s a very significant technological project to produce money nowadays because the way we prevent counterfeiting is through a lot of ways people can’t see or feel, but that is a research in development as well as a production challenge. I have directed the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to work as quickly as possible consistent with meeting the security requirements, which are first and foremost our responsibility."
With the way we protect our currency from scammers, it’s a tedious process to add new designs.
He also revealed how the process of selecting the imagery is a tough one saying:
“We started thinking about the $20’s $10’s & the $5 and the images we could include. It’s a long difficult process because you’re going through both different ideas and then you have to think about images that would be appropriate and go through the design process that’s still underway. It’s an evolutionary process.”
The 2020 date is also significant because it will mark the 100th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement and the anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
So why Harriet Tubman?
Secretary Lew said Harriet’s story is one of the greatest American stories that exudes America’s values and democracy. He said choosing Harriet to be on the $20 bill is "one of his proudest decisions."
While we were told there were several good candidates who could have been placed on the new $20, he felt Harriet’s story was the most compelling in hopes it could continue the conversation of celebrating women who have made an impact on our nation.
As for some of the new designs on the other bills…
Reportedly, several YBF historical figures will be reportedly be featured on our money. Secretary Lew didn't yet confirm, but we're hearing rumblings that women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth is expected to appear on the back of the $10 bill along with a handful of other women’s rights activists.
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and opera singer Marian Anderson will reportedly be featured on the back of the $5 alongside former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Nice!
