When it comes to paper currency in the United States, most denominations feature the portrait of a U.S. President. However, there is one denomination that does not feature a President’s portrait: the $1 bill.
The current design of the $1 bill features a portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States. However, this has not always been the case. In fact, the $1 bill has had several different designs over the years, and not all of them have featured a President’s portrait.
The first $1 bill was issued in 1862, during the Civil War. It featured a portrait of Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, rather than a President. This design was used for several years, until 1869, when it was replaced with a new design that featured a portrait of George Washington.
Since then, the $1 bill has always featured a portrait of a U.S. President, with the exception of a few special issues. For example, in 1896, the U.S. Treasury issued a $1 “Educational Series” silver certificate that featured a portrait of Martha Washington, the wife of George Washington. And in 1923, the U.S. Treasury issued a $1 “Pilgrim Tercentenary” note that featured a portrait of the Pilgrims rather than a President.
Today, the $1 bill remains the only denomination of paper currency in the United States that does not feature a portrait of a President. While the design of the bill has undergone several changes over the years, it has always featured an image of George Washington, who remains one of the most iconic figures in American history.
In conclusion, the lowest value of paper money without the portrait of a U.S. President is the $1 bill, which has featured a portrait of George Washington since 1869. While there have been a few special issues over the years that have featured other designs, the $1 bill has always remained unique in its lack of a President’s portrait.