Who Is On The 50 Dollar Bill
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The $50 bill is one of the most valued bills in circulation today, although it is not as widely used as other denominations. The bill was first issued by the U.S. Treasury in 1914 and has undergone several design changes since then. Currently, the note features the image of President Ulysses S. Grant, a key leader during the American Civil War and the 18th President of the United States.
Grant was born in 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He attended West Point Military Academy and graduated in 1843. He achieved success in the war against Mexico, and later rose to prominence in the Civil War. Grant became the 18th President of the United States in 1868 and served two terms (1868-1877). After leaving office, he wrote his memoirs and left his mark on American history.
The $50 bill features an engraved portrait of Grant based on a painting done in 1862 by Alex Healey Schwan. The bill also includes a vignette of the Senate Chamber from the U.S. Capitol in the background. On the back, there is a vignette of the U.S. Treasury building in Washington, D.C.
The first use of Grant’s likeness on the U.S. currency began in 1913 when the 100-dollar bill was issued. During World War I, the higher-denomination notes (the 100, 50, and 20 dollar bills) were no longer issued due to high inflation. The $50 bill was re-issued and featured the faces of four other presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln). In 1928, the U.S. Treasury began featuring Grant on the $50 bill.
The design of the modern-day $50 bill was first issued in 1934. It features the same portrait of Grant with a blue seal on the left. In 1996, the bill underwent its next major design change. This change included replacing the image of the U.S. Capitol with a vignette of the White House, changing the background pattern color from blue to green, and adding a watermark and security thread. In 2003, the most recent design changes added color-shifting optical security features.
The $50 bill remains one of the most complexly designed and secure pieces of currency in circulation today, honoring the achievements of one of America’s most revered presidents, Ulysses S. Grant. So when you carry a fifty dollar bill in your pocket, remember the man behind the bill and the significant role he had in American history.