Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Why Harriet Tubman Will Be on the $10 Bill
Why Harriet Tubman Will Be on the $10 Bill
Jan 27, 2026 9:10 PM

Last week the U.S. Treasury announced the $10 bill is next paper currency scheduled for a major redesign, a process that takes years because of the anti-counterfeiting technology involved, and will feature a “notable woman.”

The new ten will be unveiled in 2020, the 100th anniversary of the passage of the nineteenth amendment, which gave women the right to vote. As the Treasury explains, “The passage of the nineteenth amendment granted women their right to fully participate in the system our country was founded on—a government by the people, a democracy.”

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew says his agency is seeking input on “how we can use the new $10 note to best represent the values of our inclusive democracy.” He encourages people to use the hashtag #TheNewTen on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You needn’t bother tweeting your choice, though. I’m almost certain they already know who Treasury is going to choose: It’s going to beHarriet Tubman.

Here’s why, based on a presumed list of criteria for the female candidate:

She will be dead, and pro-democracy — A primary criteria for getting your face on America’s money is that you have to be dead. Plenty of famous women meet that criteria, of course, but that’s the first hurdle. The second one sets a higher bar. As the Treasury website notes:

Democracy is the theme for the next redesigned series and the Secretary will select a woman recognized by the public who was a champion for democracy in the United States. The person should be iconic and have made a significant contribution to — or impact on — protecting the freedoms on which our nation was founded.

That requirement narrows the field considerably.

She will have name recognition — If you didn’t hear her name mentioned in history class in junior high, you likely won’t see her name linked to the new ten.

She will not be Susan B. Anthony — Anthony seems like she would be the obvious choice, considering her connection to the 19th Amendment. And she has plenty of champions (such as Dominic Bouck, O.P. at First Things) who would love to see her share the bill with Alexander Hamilton. But there is also an obvious reason it won’t be Anthony: she was already on the dollar.

The Susan B. Anthony dollar was a dollar coin minted from 1979 to 1981 and again in 1999. The public hated it—not Anthony, just the coin (which was too similar in size to the quarter). But Anthony had her shot. The Treasury Department is not going to waste this historic opportunity to simply shift Anthony’s visage from a coin to a paper bill.

She will be African American — To date, only two women have appeared on U.S. paper currency. One was white (Martha Washington) and the other was Native American (Pocahontas). It’s time for an African American woman.

In light of those tentative requirements, the field is narrowed to only three candidates: Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth.

Parks has been called the “mother of the civil rights movement” because of her role in the Montgomery bus boycott. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993, was presented the Medal of Freedom Award by President Bill Clinton in 1996 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999, and after her death on October 24, 2005, Congress approved a resolution allowing her body to lie in honor in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. She’s a solid contender, but she’s too current a figure.

At the time of the currency unveiling, Parks will have been gone from this life for 15 years. Assuming that America will continue to exist and that Bitcoin won’t replace paper money, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future to honor Parks by putting her on our money.

That leaves only Tubman and Truth.

Both Tubman and Truth were former slaves who became abolitionists and later fought for women’s suffrage alongside Susan B. Anthony. Both are the very models of “inclusive democracy”, which make both the primary contenders for placement on the new ten.

I could have titled this article “Why Sojourner Truth Will Be on the $10 Bill”—and I almost did. If Truth were chosen over Tubman it’d be only a mild surprise. But Tubman gains a slight advantage because of her name recognition.

Tubman is better known because her role in the abolition movement is slightly more impressive. Truth gained prominence mainly as a speaker while Tubman was active in helping slaves escape to freedom. The abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison even dubbed Tubman “Moses” because of the way she led her people out of bondage.

For these reasons, Harriet Tubman will be the one sharing space on the new ten with Alexander Hamilton, the only Founding Father on our currency who never owned slaves.

How sure am I this will be Treasurer Lew’s choice? Almost certain. If I were a betting man I’d bet you a $10 it’ll be Tubman.

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Proverbs 17:27-28   (Read Proverbs 17:27-28)   A man may show himself to be a wise man, by the good temper of his mind, and by the good government of his tongue. He is careful when he does speak, to speak to the purpose. God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound there; therefore...
Verse of the Day
  Romans 8:6 In-Context   4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.   5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their...
Verse of the Day
  Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 In-Context   8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a haremThe meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. as well-the delights of a man's heart.   9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Psalm 32:8-11   (Read Psalm 32:8-11)   God teaches by his word, and guides with the secret intimations of his will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see...
Verse of the Day
  Proverbs 6:6-11 In-Context   4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.   5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.   6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!   7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,   8 yet...
Verse of the Day
  Psalm 42:2 In-Context   1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.Title: Probably a literary or musical termAs the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.   2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?...
Verse of the Day
  Hebrews 4:12 In-Context   10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works,Or labor just as God did from his.   11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.   12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Matthew 9:18-26   (Read Matthew 9:18-26)   The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who is our life. And it is high honour to the greatest rulers to attend on the Lord Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from Christ, must honour him. The variety of methods Christ took in working his...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on James 1:19-21   (Read James 1:19-21)   Instead of blaming God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to learn what he teaches by them. And if men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions. The worst thing we can bring to any dispute, is anger. Here is an exhortation to...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Proverbs 17:10   (Read Proverbs 17:10)   A gentle reproof will enter, not only into the head, but into the heart of a wise man.   Proverbs 17:10 In-Context   8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn.   9 Whoever would foster love covers...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved