Who is on the 10 Dollar Bill? Rare and Old $10 Bill

If you're wondering who is on the 10 dollar bill, it's Alexander Hamilton. The design looks almost unchanged at first glance, but the $10 bill has a long printing history. From the standardized notes of 1934 through the early 2000s, small adjustments in series and signatures created variations collectors still study today.

Learning the history of the note helps explain who is on it and how different issues appeared over time. If you want to see who's on the $10 bill and examine these notes yourself, you can explore the AI coin identifier blog.

1934 $10 Dollar Bill 

Historical Context 

The history of the 10$ bill dates back to a standardized era starting in 1934. This standardization was initiated to reduce printing costs and paper usage during the economic hardships of the Great Depression. It was in turn a departure from the larger "horse blanket" notes of the past. 

“Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin are the only two men currently featured on the nation’s currency who did not serve as president.”
– Brian Phillips Murphy, Historian
History Now, Issue 44 (Winter 2016)

Series Variations

For instance, the 1934 series often bears the signatures of Henry Morgenthau Jr. (Secretary) and William Alexander Julian (Treasurer). 

The subsequent 1934A, 1934B, and 1934C series reflect later appointments to these positions. Notes from each of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts (identified by a letter and number on the bill, e.g., A1 for Boston or G7 for Chicago) were printed.

1963 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context 

The 1963 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was issued during an era famous for the "New Frontier" and "Great Society". The signatures on the primary 1963 series are those of Kathryn Granahan as Treasurer and C. Douglas Dillon as Secretary of the Treasury. They were included in the Kennedy administration's financial leadership. Some still refer to a 10 dollar bill president, despite Alexander Hamilton not holding that office. 

Series Variations 

The primary variation within the 1963 $10 bill is the existence of a 1963A. This subsequent features a different signature combination because of a change in Treasury officials with the signatures of Dorothy Andrews Kabis as Treasurer and Douglas Dillon remaining as Secretary. 

1969 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context 

The 1969 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was released during a period of intense social and political upheaval in the United States, e.g., the height of the Vietnam War protests. The initial 1969 series has the signatures of David M. Kennedy as Secretary of the Treasury and Joseph W. Barr as Treasurer. 

Series Variations

The 1969A features the signatures of Paul Volcker as Under Secretary of the Treasury (acting) and Romana Banuelos as Treasurer.  The 1969B series features the signatures of George P. Shultz as Secretary and Romana Banuelos as Treasurer. 

Also read: Parts of a Dollar Bill Explained.

1974 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context 

The 1974 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was issued during a time of significant economic challenges for the United States: oil crisis and persistent high inflation. The signatures on this series belong to William E. Simon as Secretary of the Treasury and Isabella Casillas Neff as Treasurer. 

Series Variations

The 1974 series includes variations denoted as 1974A, 1974B, 1974C, and 1974D. Each has different signature combinations as Treasury officials changed. 

1977 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context 

The 1977 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was released during the economic aftermath of the 1970s. The initial series features the signatures of W. Michael Blumenthal as Secretary of the Treasury and Azie Taylor Morton as Treasurer. 

Series Variations

An old 10 dollar bill from the 1977 series can be collectible, especially if it's a star note. The primary variation for the 1977 $10 bill is the 1977A with the signatures of G. William Miller as Secretary and Romana Banuelos as Treasurer. 

1985 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context 

The 1985 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note entered circulation during a period of economic expansion in the mid-1980s under the Reagan administration. The initial series bears the signatures of Katherine Davalos Ortega as Treasurer and James A. Baker III as Secretary of the Treasury. 

Series Variations 

Details on rare 10 dollar bill from 1985 can be discovered through serial number lookups and collector tools. The 1985A is the main variation because of a change in Secretary of the Treasury to Donald Regan. The Treasurer, Katherine Davalos Ortega, remained the same for the 1985A series. 

As with all Federal Reserve Notes, these were issued by the twelve Federal Reserve Districts, and star notes were printed for both the 1985 and 1985A across these districts.

1988 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context 

The 1988 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was introduced towards the end of the 1980s. The initial series features the signatures of Catalina Vasquez Villalpando as Treasurer and Lloyd Bentsen as Secretary of the Treasury. 

Series Variations

The primary variation for the 1988 $10 bill is the 1988A series. This reflects a change in the Secretary of the Treasury to Nicholas F. Brady, while Catalina Vasquez Villalpando remained as Treasurer. 

As with all Federal Reserve Notes, these were issued by each of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts, and star notes were produced for both the 1988 and 1988A series across these districts.

1995 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context

The 1995 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was released during a period of economic prosperity in the mid-1990s. The reason was connected with technological innovation and a booming stock market. This series features the signatures of Robert Rubin as Secretary of the Treasury and Mary Ellen Withrow as Treasurer. 

Series Variations 

Collectors often perform a $10 dollar bill serial number lookup to identify rare varieties and assess value. The 1995 series is notable for initially lacking a letter. Later printings within this year did include letters starting with "A". It indicated subsequent print runs with the same signatures. 

1999 $10 Dollar Bill 

Historical Context 

The 1999 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was introduced at the cusp of the new millennium. It features the signatures of Lawrence Summers as Secretary of the Treasury and Mary Ellen Withrow as Treasurer. Later in the year, a signature change occurred to Robert Rubin (returning as Secretary) and Lee Ann Aultman-Aney as Treasurer. 

Series Variations 

The primary variation within the 1999 lies in the signature combinations. The initial printing features Summers and Withrow, while a later printing features Rubin and Aultman-Aney. Like the 1995, the 1999 notes initially lacked a letter, with subsequent printings including series letters starting with "A." 

Also read: $2 Bill Value.

2003 $10 Dollar Bill

Historical Context

The 2003 Series $10 Federal Reserve Note was released in the early years of the new millennium full of the aftermath of the dot-com bubble burst and the economic adjustments that followed. This series features the signatures of John W. Snow as Secretary of the Treasury and Rosario Marinuzzi as Treasurer. 

Series Variations 

The 2003 series includes a 2003A variation, but both of them feature the same signatures by Snow and Marinuzzi. As with all Federal Reserve Notes, these were issued by the twelve Federal Reserve Districts, and star notes were produced for both the 2003 and 2003A across these districts.

To sum up, every Alexander Hamilton 10 dollar bill from 1934 to the early 2000s features his portrait. Collectors invested in numismatics often perform a $10 dollar bill serial number value lookup to assess the rarity and potential worth of certain notes. These differences, including signatures and printing origins, influence their collectibility.

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