The Treasury Department will put a woman on the $10 — they should have picked the $20

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew confirmed late Wednesday that the Bureau of Printing and Engraving is preparing a plan to put a woman on the $10 bill. The woman, who has not yet been selected (here are some good ideas), will apparently appear alongside Alexander Hamilton on the bill.

Rather than resort to this odd arrangement, a better idea would be to take Andrew Jackson off the $20, as Jillian Keenan has argued. Many presidents oversaw mistreatment of American Indians, but Jackson's policies in this regard were especially egregious. He was also a proponent of slavery, and his crank monetary policies — including an opposition to paper money — make him almost uniquely unsuited for a role on currency.

Hamilton had his flaws and the case for putting a woman on American currency is strong, but Jackson is far and away the best candidate for removal.

Explanatory journalism is a public good

At Vox, we believe that everyone deserves access to information that helps them understand and shape the world they live in. That's why we keep our work free. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today.

One-Time Monthly Annual

$95/year

$120/year

$250/year

$350/year

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $120/year

Yes, I'll give $120/year

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via