The Internet is a marvel for, among other things, making history enormously easy to access. Back in the late 1800s, seeing a $20 silver certificate required a transaction involving the value of $20 worth of silver. Nowadays, it's on Wikimedia Commons, as are a slew of other past $20 paper currencies, thanks to Godot13.
With news that we'll apparently soon see another new $20, this time featuring the likeness of Harriet Tubman, we decided to rank past iterations on aesthetic and historic qualifications.
Without further ado.
22. The 1998 version from the Federal Reserve
$20 then is now worth: $29.22
(The current value figures here are sort of misleading. It's how much $20 from the year of issue would be worth in 2016 after inflation. But as the Federal Reserve makes clear, its old bills are negotiable for their face value: $20.)
Yawn. Remember this stupid bill? "Oh the #millennials will like the big head."
21. The 1914 version from the Federal Reserve
$20 then is now worth: $476.26
This bill literally has Grover Cleveland on it, which is embarrassing.
20. The 2003 version from the Federal Reserve
$20 then is now worth: $25.88
Familiarity breeds contempt.
19. The 1990 version from the Federal Reserve
$20 then is now worth: $36.44
This is the highest-ranked of the Federal Reserve versions simply because it's the one I used most of my adult life. Familiarity breeds nostalgia.
18. The 1891 Treasury note
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
This is a Treasury note featuring former Supreme Court chief justice John Marshall. The "XX" Roman numerals are a nice touch, as is the odd circle of text on the reverse, but generally this is sort of dull.
17. The 1928 Gold certificate
$20 then is now worth: $278.52
A gold certificate with the face of Andrew Jackson. A gold certificate is what it sounds like: A certificate that the bearer owns gold in that value. But this version is just a regular-looking $20 with a spot of color, so it's low on the list.
16. The 1890 Treasury note
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
A slightly nicer version of the John Marshall Treasury note. The typography on the back is much cooler (to use a scientific term).
15. The 1875 greenback
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
The Georgia O'Keefe-esque illustration on the reverse of this bill sets it apart, as does the fact that it features none other than Alexander Hamilton, man of the hour on the Great White Way.
14. The 1891 silver certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
At first I thought this was Grover Cleveland, because, let's be honest. But as Pew Research's Drew DeSilver (DeSilver) pointed out over email, it's actually former Treasury Secretary Daniel Manning. Are his great-great-grandsons NFL quarterbacks? Probably not, but who knows.
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Anyway. The treatment of "UNITED" and "STATES" is phenomenal, as is the character to Manning's right who is just chilling. "Who should we put on the new $20 silver certificate?" "Someone relaxed."
13. The 1869 greenback
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
Hamilton again, but this time the O'Keefe has been replaced with a short novella about a famous counterfeiter. I'm amused that they put a counterfeiting warning on the bill, like someone would get his press all set up and, as he was preparing to do the engraving, suddenly learn that his plans were against the law.
Also, bonus points for Lady Liberty using her shield to protect her eyes from the Sun.
12. The 1922 gold certificate
$20 then is now worth: $283.49
Sure, it's George Washington, but that gold-orange back is excellent.
11. The 1886 silver certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
Chilling person as before, but now with great "UNITED" and "STATES" typography on the front and back. The ornateness was itself an attempt to prevent counterfeiting, of course, but it paid off.
10. The 1882 gold certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
Congratulations to President Garfield, making the most of his brief stint in the White House. This bill literally has a golden eagle on it. Terrific.
9. Another 1882 gold certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
This one is slightly better simply because you can see the "GOLD COIN" statement on the obverse that much more clearly.
8. The 1906 gold certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
It's the mullet dollar bill. Business on the front, party on the back.
7. The 1863 greenback
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
Lady Liberty, front and center, but the design on the back is what really stands out.
6. The 1861 greenback
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
I simply like the reverse here -- the shield on a field of flowers, with a repeated "20" and "United States" pattern.
5. The 1905 gold certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
Mullet Washington, but this time with a nice golden color underneath Washington's portrait. It's a beautiful piece of money.
4. The 1878 silver certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
The guy is Steven Decatur, an 18th and 19th century naval officer. But the reverse of this bill is what stands out, the 1878 version of a Vegas marquee.
3. The 1880 silver certificate
$20 then is now worth: Over $500
The same thing, but the "XX" on the front makes it that much more Vegas-y.
2. The World War II Hawaii $20
$20 then is now worth: Over $323.99
This is a normal $20, with two exceptions. On the obverse, the word "HAWAII" at each end. On the back, a giant overprint with the territory's name.
Why? In case Japan invaded. If Japan occupied the islands, this currency became worthless, meaning that it wouldn't do the invaders any good.
1. The Harriet Tubman bill
$20 then is now worth: $20
It's about time.
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