Ever really looked at the money in your wallet? Most of us just see a green scrap of paper and move on with our day. But if you pull up a high-resolution picture of a 20 bill, you start to notice things that are honestly kind of weird. There’s a chaotic mix of history, high-tech security, and some pretty intense political drama hiding in those fine lines. It isn’t just about Andrew Jackson anymore.
Money changes. It has to. If it stayed the same, counterfeiters would have a field day.
Right now, the $20 bill is the workhorse of the American economy. It’s the note you get from every ATM. It’s the one you use for lunch. But the image we’ve all grown used to is currently in a state of flux. Between the Harriet Tubman redesign delays and the sheer technical wizardry required to keep the "Jackson" note secure, there is a lot more going on here than just a portrait and some numbers.
The Security Tech Inside That Picture of a 20 Bill
If you take a macro picture of a 20 bill, the first thing that hits you is the detail. This isn't just printing; it’s engineering. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) uses a process called intaglio printing. Basically, they press the paper into recessed plates with so much force that the ink actually sits on top of the paper. You can feel it with your fingernail. It’s got a texture.
🔗 Read more: Some Govt. Securities NYT: Why Treasury Bonds Are Still the World’s Safety Net
Look at the "20" in the bottom right corner. Tilt it. See how it shifts from copper to green? That’s color-shifting ink. It’s expensive, it’s proprietary, and it’s a nightmare for anyone trying to fake it with a standard inkjet printer. Then there is the security thread. If you hold that bill up to a light source, you’ll see a vertical strip embedded in the paper. It’s not printed on the surface; it’s literally inside the fiber. It says "USA TWENTY" and has a tiny flag.
Microprinting and Symbols
Most people miss the microprinting. You need a magnifying glass or a really good camera lens to see it. There are tiny words "USA20" and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 20" hidden along the borders of the portrait and the lower-left Treasury seal. It’s so small that most scanners just turn it into a blurry line.
Then there’s the "EURion constellation." Look at the background of the bill. You’ll see small, yellow "20s" scattered around. These aren't just for decoration. Most modern photo editing software and color photocopiers are programmed to recognize this specific pattern. If you try to scan a picture of a 20 bill, your software might actually block you from opening the file or printing it. It’s a silent digital guard.
The Andrew Jackson Controversy and the Harriet Tubman Shift
Let’s talk about the face on the money. Andrew Jackson has been the face of the $20 bill since 1928. Before him, it was Grover Cleveland. Why Jackson? It’s actually a bit ironic because Jackson famously hated the idea of paper money and the national banking system. He was a "hard money" guy.
But things are changing.
Back in 2016, the Treasury Department announced that Harriet Tubman would replace Jackson on the front of the bill. It was a massive announcement. Tubman—the Underground Railroad conductor, scout, and spy—would be the first woman on a major denomination of U.S. paper currency in over a century. Since then, the timeline has been a bit of a rollercoaster.
The redesign was originally supposed to be unveiled by 2020 to coincide with the centennial of the 19th Amendment. It didn't happen. There were technical hurdles, political shifts, and a lot of bureaucratic dragging of feet. The current plan, according to the BEP, involves a multi-year rollout. We likely won't see a new picture of a 20 bill featuring Tubman in wide circulation until closer to 2030.
💡 You might also like: Procter & Gamble Market Cap: Why $338 Billion Is More Than Just a Number
Why Does a Redesign Take So Long?
You might think you just swap one face for another. You can't. Every time the U.S. changes a bill, they have to re-engineer every single security feature. They have to make sure the new design works with high-speed sorting machines used by the Federal Reserve and the bill validators in every vending machine and laundromat in the country. It’s a massive logistical headache that costs millions of dollars.
How to Spot a Fake Without a Machine
You don't need a UV light to tell if your twenty is real, though it helps (the security thread glows green under UV). Honestly, the best tool is your own hand.
Genuine U.S. currency is printed on a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. It’s not wood-pulp paper. That’s why it doesn’t fall apart when you accidentally leave it in your jeans and run it through the wash. It has a "snap" to it. If a bill feels "waxy" or like standard printer paper, it’s probably a fake.
- The Watermark: Hold it to the light. You should see a faint image of Andrew Jackson in the blank space to the right of the portrait. It should be visible from both sides.
- The Border: In a real picture of a 20 bill, the fine lines in the border are sharp and unbroken. Counterfeits often look "muddy" or blurred because they can't replicate the precision of the intaglio press.
- The Serial Numbers: These should be perfectly spaced and the ink should match the color of the Treasury Seal exactly.
Digital Money vs. The Physical Twenty
We’re moving toward a cashless society, right? Maybe. But the demand for physical $20 bills is actually still huge. According to Federal Reserve data, there are billions of these notes in circulation. People trust cash. In a power outage or a cyber attack, that picture of a 20 bill in your hand is the only thing that’s definitely going to work.
The $20 bill also sits in a "sweet spot" of value. It’s enough to buy a decent meal or a few groceries, but not so large that stores refuse to break it (like the $100 or sometimes the $50). It is the king of the American wallet.
Actionable Steps for Handling Your Cash
If you deal with a lot of cash, especially in a small business, you shouldn't just rely on those "counterfeit detector" pens. They aren't foolproof. They only react to the starch in wood-based paper. Sophisticated counterfeiters sometimes "bleach" lower denominations (like a $1 bill) and print a $20 image over it. The pen will say it's real because the paper is real.
Instead, look for the security thread. That’s the gold standard.
- Check the color-shift: Always tilt the bill. If that "20" doesn't change from copper to green, it's a fake.
- Feel the paper: Run your thumb over Jackson's shoulder. You should feel the raised ridges of the ink.
- Use your phone: If you’re unsure, take a high-res picture of a 20 bill you know is real and compare the microprinting zones.
- Know the protocol: If you end up with a counterfeit, don't try to spend it. That’s a felony. You’re supposed to turn it over to the Secret Service or local police. You won't get your twenty bucks back, which sucks, but it’s better than getting arrested at a gas station for passing bad bills.
Keep an eye on the news over the next few years. The BEP is going to start releasing more concrete images of the new Series notes soon. The look of our money is about to change more than it has in nearly a century, and the next time you see a picture of a 20 bill, it might just be Harriet Tubman looking back at you. Check your wallet occasionally; you might be holding a piece of history or a very clever piece of technology without even realizing it.