BENJAMINS, MAJESTIES, GATES AND BRIDGES, AND OUR NATIONAL MUSHROOM

I GOT STARTED ON THIS with the Interesting Facts website saying, “Only One Building Outside Washington, D.C., is Featured on U.S. Banknotes.”

Our National Pyramid. Here’s an architectural tour, starting with the $1 bill, which, if we nitpick, hasn’t a building on it: There’s the pyramid with a floating eye, the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States.(The obverse of the Great Seal is our National Coat of Arms, an eagle clutching arrows and olive branch with wings extended.) 

Images from Wikipedia. Lower image by Ipankonin.

By the way, to avoid hassles with 18 U.S.C. §713 and its potential fine or imprisonment not more than six months, or both, I emphasize that my use of this does not imply any sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States or by any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof. 

Indeed, it is I who approves of the image’s aspirational aspects:  An incomplete pyramid implies a progressive future; the Eye of Providence is “watching over the workers of mankind.” And I’ve always admired eagles.

The Latin on the Great Seal is encouraging: : E Pluribus Unum, Out of Many One, and Annuit cœptis (Providence has favored our undertakings), and Novus ordo seclorum (New order of the ages).

Other National Buildings. Interesting Facts observes, “The $5 bill features the Lincoln Memorial, while the $10 features the Treasury Building—fitting, since Alexander Hamilton, whose visage adorns the obverse, served as the Treasury Department’s first secretary. The $20 and $50 finish the architectural tour of Washington with the White House and Capitol Building, respectively.”

Image from the U.S. Currency Education Program. 

Interesting Facts describes the outlier: “The $100 bill switches things up by featuring Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Although an immensely important building—it’s the site where revolutionaries signed the Declaration of Independence and where the Founding Fathers crafted the U.S. Constitution—it’s also a thematic choice, seeing as Benjamin Franklin (depicted on the obverse of the bill) is undoubtedly Philadelphia’s most famous historical figure.” He was also a printer of note.

The $2 Bill. What’s more, Interesting Facts recounts, “…this isn’t Independence Hall’s only appearance on U.S. currency. A very small section of the interior of the building is also displayed on the 1976 reissue of the $2, which includes a reproduction of John Trumbull’s 1818 painting ‘Declaration of Independence.’ ”

 My pair of 1976 issue $2 bills, together with an English fiver. 

I recall once being told that $2 bills were popular currency at race tracks, though I claim no first-hand touting.

Rob’s Fiver. Rob Walker ran his Formula 1 team from the mid-1950s into the early 1970s. Drivers—employed on a simple handshake—included Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant, Jo Bonnier, Jo Siffert, and Graham Hill. Rob later became R&T’s man covering the races; he and his wife Betty became good friends

U.K. Currency. Brit banknotes have both regularity and diversity: The obverse of Bank of England paper has long displayed Queen Elizabeth II; a new series is coming with King Charles III. The reverse of bills celebrates noteworthy Britishers including Winston Churchill (£5), Jane Austen (£10), JMW Turner (£20), and Alan Turing (£50).

Euro Paper. The latest series, the Europa series, of Euro paper has banknotes in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 denominations. I like the imagery of their currency: The obverses are actual gates and entrances; the reverse, bridges. Also, Euro currency is size/value-dependent: fivers, the smallest; the €200, the largest.

Image by PawełMM from Wikipedia.

Folding Money. I hope I offend no currency patriots nor commit any crime with this zany recollection of my youth: Take a crisp $1 bill and fold it lengthwise into three parts of (artfully chosen) width. 

Voilà. Our Founding Mushroom. ds 

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2023