Who were the only two Americans that were not presidents to have their picture on paper money?

Answer 1

Current bills:

The $100 and the $10. On the 100 is Benjamin Franklin, who was influential in many events of the 1700s, among them the Declaration, the Constitution, and the American Revolution. On the 10 is Alexander Hamilton, who was the first Secretary of the Treasury, which was a lot more than it seems. Alexander Hamilton is also the only person on any paper money to not have been born in the United States --- he was from Nevis, which is an island in the West Indies.

Older bills:

Earlier Federal Reserve Notes depicted other non-presidents. Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury (1861-1864) appeared on the $10,000 bill and Chief Justice John Marshall appeared on one design of the $500 bill.

Before that, other forms of paper money depicted many non-presidents including inventor Samuel Morse, General Philip Sheridan, explorers Lewis and Clark, First Lady Martha Washington, and others.

Answer 2

Current US banknotes with non-presidents are:

• $10: Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury
• $100: Benjamin Franklin, inventor, statesman, philosopher, scientist, and Founding Father.

Many older bills have people who weren't president, ranging from Native Americans to Martha Washington to generals and cabinet secretaries. Prior to the 1920s portraits were changed every few years. In 1928 the Treasury standardized all designs, and since then each individual depicted has gained a set of fierce defenders who have been unwilling to support any changes to the people shown.