The Secretary of the Treasury was given broad latitude by Congress in 1862 to supervise the design, printing, and issue of banknotes.
[nb 2][4] The Secretary, with input from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, has final approval over the design of banknotes.
In 1873, driven in large part by the actions of Spinner and Clark, Congress prohibited the use of portraits of living people on any U.S. bond, security, note, or fractional or postal currency.
In the description of the banknotes, the date in parentheses indicates the individual's first appearance on a given note type and denomination.
Each of the 53 individuals depicted on U.S. banknotes (not including fractional currency) is listed alphabetically with their most commonly associated titles, positions held, or affiliations (with dates).
Below is a summary of the titles/positions held, at one time or another, by the 53 individuals depicted on United States banknotes from 1861 to the present.
Fifty-three people held at least 132 elected and appointed positions for a cumulative total of over 763 years of public service.