If you have ever looked closely at a U.S. $20 bill and wondered who is on the portrait, the answer is Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. His portrait has appeared on the front of the $20 note since the standardized currency designs introduced in 1929, and the current design $20 bill continues to feature him. The reverse side shows the White House, making the note one of the most recognizable pieces of American currency. The U.S. Currency Education Program confirms that the current $20 note features Jackson’s portrait and that the White House appears on the back. However, there is an important detail behind this seemingly simple answer: the U.S. government announced plans in 2016 to eventually place Harriet Tubman’s portrait on the front of a redesigned $20 note. That announcement has led many people to believe that Harriet Tubman is already on the $20 bill, but that is not the case with the current circulating design. The current $20 bill still carries Andrew Jackson, while the government’s published currency redesign schedule lists the $20 note for a future redesign in 2030.
Who Is on the $20 Dollar Bill?
The person on the current U.S. $20 bill is Andrew Jackson, who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. His engraved portrait is positioned on the front of the Federal Reserve note, while the White House is depicted on the reverse. The $20 denomination is one of the seven U.S. Federal Reserve note denominations currently issued by the Federal Reserve System: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Jackson’s image is not a recent addition. The U.S. Currency Education Program explains that the portrait and vignette were changed in 1929, when standardized designs were introduced, with Jackson appearing on the front of the $20 and the White House on the back.
This means that if you take an ordinary $20 bill from your wallet or receive one as change today, you should expect to see Andrew Jackson on the front. His portrait is surrounded by several security and design elements that make the note more than simply a piece of paper representing twenty dollars. The current design, introduced in the early 2000s, includes background colors, a security thread, a watermark and color shifting ink.
Who Was Andrew Jackson?
Andrew Jackson was an American military leader and politician who became the seventh president of the United States. Born in 1767, he rose to national prominence through his military career before entering presidential politics. His victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 made him a major national figure, although the battle occurred after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed and before news of the peace agreement had reached the combatants. Jackson later won the presidency and served two terms from 1829 to 1837.
Jackson’s presidency remains historically significant and controversial. He was associated with the expansion of popular political participation among white male voters and helped shape the Democratic Party during its early development. At the same time, his policies toward Native American peoples, particularly his support for Indian removal, remain a major part of historical criticism of his presidency. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced displacement of Native American communities, culminating in events remembered as the Trail of Tears. Understanding this complicated legacy is important when discussing why Jackson appears on American currency today.
His appearance on the $20 bill does not mean that every aspect of his historical record is officially endorsed. U.S. currency has historically featured prominent political and historical figures, and the individuals selected for banknotes often reflect particular periods of American history. Currency designs can also change as government agencies consider security requirements, historical representation and broader design priorities.
What Is on the Back of the $20 Bill?
The back of the current $20 bill features the White House, the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. The White House has appeared on the reverse of the $20 note alongside Jackson’s portrait for many decades, and the current design continues this arrangement. The U.S. Currency Education Program specifically identifies the White House as the historical image on the back of the denomination.
The combination of Jackson on the front and the White House on the reverse gives the $20 note a clear presidential theme. It is also useful to remember that the front and back serve different visual purposes. Jackson’s portrait identifies the historical figure associated with the denomination, while the White House represents the executive branch and one of America’s most recognizable national landmarks. When the $20 note was redesigned in 1998 and subsequently issued in the early 2000s, the White House remained an important part of its visual identity.
Why Is Andrew Jackson on the $20 Bill?
Andrew Jackson has appeared on the $20 denomination since the standardized Federal Reserve note designs established in 1929. The U.S. Currency Education Program states that the portrait and vignette were changed in 1929 to feature President Jackson on the front and the White House on the back. This historical placement is why generations of Americans have become accustomed to seeing Jackson whenever they handle a $20 bill.
The choice of a historical figure for a banknote is not necessarily permanent. The U.S. government periodically redesigns Federal Reserve notes, particularly to improve resistance to counterfeiting and update security technology. According to the Currency Education Program, redesign decisions are influenced heavily by counterfeit threats and involve the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and U.S. Secret Service. Consequently, the presence of Jackson on today’s $20 bill reflects the current design rather than a guarantee that his portrait will remain there indefinitely.
Is Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill?
No, Harriet Tubman is not on the current circulating $20 bill. This is one of the most common points of confusion surrounding the denomination. In April 2016, then Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew announced plans for a future redesigned $20 note featuring Harriet Tubman on the front. Under that proposed design, the reverse would feature the White House and an image of Andrew Jackson.
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist, freedom seeker and important figure in the history of the Underground Railroad and the struggle against slavery. The proposal to place her on the $20 was historically significant because Treasury described it as the first time in more than a century that the front of U.S. currency would feature a woman’s portrait.
The proposal therefore created an important distinction between the current $20 bill and the planned future design. If someone asks who is on the $20 bill today, the correct answer remains Andrew Jackson. If they ask who has been proposed for a future $20 redesign, the answer is Harriet Tubman.
When Will Harriet Tubman Appear on the $20 Bill?
The redesign has taken much longer than the original 2016 announcement suggested. The U.S. Currency Education Program currently lists a planned sequence for future Federal Reserve note redesigns, with the $20 note scheduled for 2030. The same published schedule lists redesigns for other denominations in different years as part of a long term effort focused on security and counterfeit prevention.
Treasury officials have continued discussing Harriet Tubman’s future appearance on the $20. In 2023, then Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the government would be introducing new currency designs in the coming years, including placing Tubman’s portrait on the $20 bill. Therefore, Harriet Tubman’s proposed appearance is not simply an old internet rumor, but it should not be confused with the current design people use in everyday transactions.
What Are the Security Features of the $20 Bill?
The modern $20 bill contains several security features designed to make counterfeiting more difficult. The current design includes a security thread embedded vertically in the note. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the thread glows green, and it contains the words “USA TWENTY” along with a small flag pattern. The note also contains a watermark showing Andrew Jackson, which can be seen when the bill is held up to light.
Another recognizable feature is the color shifting numeral 20 in the lower right area on the front. When the note is tilted, the numeral changes from copper to green. The $20 bill also uses raised printing, security fibers, microprinting and other detailed printing techniques. These features are particularly useful when someone wants to check whether a $20 note appears genuine rather than relying only on its overall color or appearance.
| Feature | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Portrait | Andrew Jackson on the front |
| Reverse image | White House |
| Watermark | Jackson’s portrait when held to light |
| Security thread | Green glow under ultraviolet light |
| Color-shifting ink | “20” changes color when tilted |
| Paper | Cotton and linen composition with security fibers |
Is the $20 Bill Still Legal Tender?
Yes. The current $20 bill is legal tender, and older U.S. currency designs also remain legal tender. The U.S. Currency Education Program states that all U.S. currency remains legal tender regardless of when it was issued. This means people generally do not need to exchange an older $20 note simply because it looks different from a newer version.
This point is particularly useful because U.S. currency has been redesigned multiple times. The $20 note issued today may look different from a bill printed decades ago, but an older legitimate Federal Reserve note does not automatically become worthless when a newer design enters circulation. The government keeps older designs valid while newer notes gradually enter circulation.
Conclusion
So, who is on the $20 dollar bill? The answer today is Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. His portrait appears on the front, while the White House appears on the reverse. Although the current note continues to feature Jackson, the denomination is expected to receive a future redesign, and Treasury has proposed placing Harriet Tubman’s portrait on the front. The latest U.S. Currency Education Program schedule places the $20 redesign in 2030, meaning that Harriet Tubman’s proposed $20 should be understood as a future design rather than the bill currently circulating.
The $20 note is therefore more than a simple answer to a currency trivia question. Its design connects American political history, presidential symbolism, currency technology and the continuing evolution of U.S. banknotes. For anyone identifying a $20 bill today, the key fact is simple: Andrew Jackson is on the current $20 bill, and Harriet Tubman has been selected for a planned future redesign.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the $20 Bill
Who is on the $20 dollar bill?
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, appears on the front of the current U.S. $20 bill. His portrait has been associated with the denomination since the standardized currency designs introduced in 1929.
Who is on the back of the $20 bill?
The White House is featured on the back of the current $20 bill. It has been part of the denomination’s design alongside Andrew Jackson’s portrait for decades.
Is Andrew Jackson still on the $20 bill?
Yes. Andrew Jackson remains on the current circulating $20 note. A future redesign is planned, but the current U.S. Currency Education Program identifies Jackson as the portrait on the $20 denomination.
Is Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill now?
No. Harriet Tubman is not on the current $20 bill. Treasury announced in 2016 that her portrait was planned for a future redesigned $20 note, but today’s circulating design still features Andrew Jackson.
When will Harriet Tubman be on the $20 bill?
The current published U.S. Currency Education Program redesign schedule lists the $20 note for 2030. The timetable concerns future currency redesigns and should not be interpreted as meaning that a Harriet Tubman $20 note is already circulating.
What is on the back of the $20 bill?
The back of the current $20 bill displays the White House, while Andrew Jackson appears on the front. The White House has been an important part of the denomination’s design since the standardized 1929 design.
How can you tell if a $20 bill is real?
Look for several security features rather than relying on one detail. The current $20 note has an embedded security thread that glows green under ultraviolet light, a Jackson watermark visible when held to light and color shifting ink in the numeral 20.
Are old $20 bills still valid?
Yes. Legitimate older U.S. currency remains legal tender regardless of when it was issued. A redesigned note does not automatically make an older genuine note worthless.
