1

Clock change

Image: Jonathan Borba

US currency is full of symbolism, and the $100 bill is no exception. Since 1928, we have seen Independence Hall depicted on the back of this bill. But in 2013, it was redesigned, and one change stands out: the clock tower, which previously showed 4:10, now reads 10:30. Did you notice?

2

Jackie Kennedy’s choice

Image: Florida Memory

Jackie Kennedy played a key role in designing the coin that would feature the portrait of her ex-husband. When the U.S. Mint planned the Kennedy half dollar in 1964, she was consulted and provided input on various aspects of the coin, including its imagery and symbolism.

3

Not paper

Image: Giorgio Trovato

Although it is called paper money, our bills do not contain any paper at all. In fact, they are made of a blend of 75% cotton, 25% linen, and fine silk fibers embedded. This mixture is not random; it was specially chosen so that your bills can withstand everything: folds, wrinkles, stains, and even an accidental shower in the washing machine.

4

The unfinished pyramid

Image: Marek Studzinski

The one-dollar bill also has its secrets and details. On its back, you’ll find an unfinished pyramid, part of the Great Seal of the United States designed in the 1780s. Why unfinished? The pyramid has 13 steps, representing the original 13 colonies, and its incomplete form symbolizes the nation’s ongoing growth and expansion.

5

50% larger

Image: Bozhin Karaivanov

Before 1929, US banknotes were significantly larger, measuring approximately 7.375 x 3.125 inches. Today, collectors refer to these as "large-size" notes, sometimes even nicknamed "Horseblankets." In contrast, modern bills measure just 6.14 x 2.61 inches. The government decided to reduce the bill's size to cut production and design costs.

6

Andrew Jackson’s preference

Image: Giorgio Trovato

Andrew Jackson has been the face of the $20 bill since 1928, when he replaced Grover Cleveland. Ironically, Jackson was opposed to paper money. He didn't trust that form of payment, believing it could be easily manipulated. According to historians, the 7th U.S. President favored "hard money": gold and silver coins.

7

Alexander Hamilton’s portrait

Image: engin akyurt

Most portraits on US bills face left, with one exception: Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill, the only one facing right (toward the viewer’s left). You might wonder why, but there’s no official explanation; it seems to have been simply a design choice.

8

"In God We Trust"

Image: rc.xyz NFT gallery

In 1956, Congress passed a law declaring "In God We Trust" the national motto, making it mandatory on all U.S. coins and banknotes. But this wasn’t its first appearance: the phrase first appeared in 1864 on the two-cent coin. Beyond faith, it also carried political weight, suggesting that God favored the Union during the Civil War.

9

The change that never happened

Image: Ryan Quintal

In 2015, the Treasury announced plans to redesign the $10 bill, stating that Hamilton's portrait would be replaced by that of an influential woman from US history. However, the change never happened. Why? Those years saw a surge in Hamilton's popularity thanks to the hit musical of the same name, leading the Treasury to backtrack on the replacement plan.

10

Criteria

Image: Live Richer

As is well known, not just any portrait can appear on US currency. But beyond historical significance, the figures on our bills and coins must meet other criteria you might not know: They must also be deceased and well recognized by citizens, ensuring that the people represented are familiar and meaningful to the public.

1

Jackie Kennedy (1961–1963)

Jackie Kennedy brought elegance, culture, and a whole lot of style to the White House. But she was much more than a fashion icon : She led a historic restoration of the White House and made sure Americans saw it as a true national treasure through a famous televised tour in 1962.

Her poise during the devastating days following her husband’s assassination gave the country something to hold onto in a time of profound national grief.

2

Eleanor Roosevelt (1933–1945)

Eleanor Roosevelt completely redefined what a First Lady could be . She held press conferences, wrote a daily newspaper column, traveled the country during the Great Depression, and pushed her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, hard on civil rights.

After President Franklin died, she kept going, serving as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations and helping to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Simply put, she is the gold standard of First Ladies.

3

Betty Ford (1974–1977)

Betty Ford was refreshingly honest for a First Lady. She spoke openly about her breast cancer diagnosis at a time when people barely dared to whisper the word, and her candor is credited with encouraging countless women to get mammograms.

After leaving the White House, she went public about her struggles with substance abuse and founded the Betty Ford Center, which has helped thousands of people get sober over the years. She turned personal hardship into public good .

4

Dolley Madison (1809–1817)

Dolley Madison turned the White House into a lively gathering place. She also used her dinner parties to help James Madison smooth over political feuds that might otherwise have blown up.

Her most famous moment was when the British invaded in 1814 and set the White House on fire, and Dolley stayed behind just long enough to save a portrait of George Washington .

5

Edith Wilson (1915–1921)

When President Woodrow Wilson suffered a severe stroke in 1919, Edith didn't just stand by his side: she basically ran the show . She controlled who could see the president, filtered his communications, and made key decisions about what information reached him. In a time when women couldn't even vote yet, Edith Wilson played a key role in keeping the nation afloat during her husband's sickness.

6

Mary Todd Lincoln (1861–1865)

Mary Todd Lincoln had one of the hardest roles any First Lady has ever faced: supporting a president through the Civil War while grieving the death of their son. She was sharp, opinionated, and deeply involved in her husband Abraham's presidency.

While she was often criticized during her time by political opponents, history has been kinder to her, recognizing that she was a complex, intelligent woman navigating an almost impossible situation.

7

Lou Henry Hoover

Lou Henry Hoover brought an intellect to the White House unlike almost any First Lady before her during Herbert Hoover's presidency (1929-1933). A Stanford-educated geologist who spoke five languages, she was an accomplished woman in her own right at a time when that was genuinely rare . When the Great Depression hit, she used her own personal funds to quietly help White House staff and struggling families, often anonymously.

Her most lasting legacy was her passionate dedication to the Girl Scouts of America. She championed the idea that young women deserved the same opportunities for outdoor education and leadership development as young men, and she funded troops in underserved communities. In 1933, she became the first First Lady to deliver a solo nationwide radio broadcast, using the platform to call on Americans to support their neighbors during the crushing hardships of the Depression.

8

Lady Bird Johnson (1963–1969)

Lady Bird Johnson championed the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 , a landmark piece of legislation that regulated billboards and junkyards along federal highways and promoted the planting of native wildflowers across the country. She worked closely with the National Park Service , helped establish or improve numerous parks and green spaces, and brought conservation to the center of the national conversation at a time when few politicians were willing to do so.

She also ran the White House with great skill and was a key behind-the-scenes supporter of Lyndon B. Johnson’s ambitious Great Society programs.

9

Abigail Adams (1797-1801)

Long before women had the right to vote, Abigail Adams was already telling her husband to "remember the ladies", and she meant it. She was one of the most politically engaged women of her era, writing sharp, witty letters to John that were basically unofficial policy memos.

She's often considered America's first truly political First Lady, and she was ahead of her time by about 150 years .

10

Edith Roosevelt

Edith Roosevelt transformed the role of First Lady during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency (1901–1909), turning it into something closer to what we recognize today. Edith created a formal staff, managed the White House's finances, and oversaw its major renovation in 1902 , which gave the building its now-iconic East and West Wings.

She was also a master of image control , carefully curating which photographs of her family reached the press and keeping the famously boisterous Roosevelt children from becoming a public relations liability. Behind closed doors, she was one of her husband Theodore's most trusted advisors, and many historians believe her steady judgment was a quiet but powerful force throughout his presidency.

1

The Teeth of the Sea

Image: Kelsey K

Steven Spielberg’s Jaws terrified audiences with its simple but chilling title. But in France, the name was softened to The Teeth of the Sea . Are we watching a horror movie or a National Geographic documentary?

Don’t get us wrong, the title still conveys the idea of a deadly shark, but it lacks the punch of the original. Can you imagine the famous Jaws poster with this title instead? Not the same impact!

2

Mom, I Missed the Plane

Image: Alsu Vershinina

Can you guess which movie we’re talking about? Of course, it’s Home Alone ! We all know this movie as the classic Christmas comedy about little Kevin McCallister, whose family accidentally leaves behind.

But in France, the title suggests that Kevin missed the flight himself, as if this was his own fault! Mom, I Missed the Plane shifts the blame away from his forgetful parents, making it sound like he had one job and messed it up. That’s a different movie!

3

The War of the Stars

Image: Emmanuel Denier

It’s hard to imagine Star Wars being called anything else, but in France, it became The War of the Stars , and in Spain, it was The War of the Galaxies . That’s not too far off, but some translations went a bit crazy.

For example, in Germany, Han Solo’s ship, the Millennium Falcon, became the Speeding Falcon. In France, Han himself was renamed Yan Solo, and Chewbacca was Chico. And their ship? The Millennium Condor! We feel confident in saying that the Force was not with those translators.

4

Super Power Dare Die Team

Image: Lance Grandahl

The 2016 Ghostbusters reboot wasn’t a huge hit, but it would have had an even stranger fate in China. The translated title was Super Power Dare Die Team , which sounds more like an extreme sports competition than a paranormal comedy, don’t you think?

In reality, the movie was never officially released in China due to censorship laws against supernatural themes. But if it had made it, fans would have been left wondering just what kind of movie they were about to watch!

5

A Very Powerful Whale Runs to Heaven

Image: Gabriel Dizzi

The heartwarming story of a boy helping a whale escape captivity became something far more dramatic in some countries.

Free Willy was translated to A Very Powerful Whale Runs to Heaven in China. This movie sounds like a spiritual journey rather than an animal rescue mission. While the whale does leap to freedom, it doesn’t quite run anywhere, and it definitely doesn’t go to heaven, at least not in the movie! That’s an odd twist!

6

A Twin Seldom Comes Alone

Image: Alexander Grey

The Parent Trap was a fun family film about separated twin sisters and their adventurous reunion . But it became something oddly deep in Germany.

The title was translated to A Twin Seldom Comes Alone , which sounds more like an ancient proverb than a Disney remake, right? Maybe they were making a poetic statement about how twins always come in pairs. We don’t know, but we think it’s a pretty dramatic title for a lighthearted comedy!

7

He’s a Ghost!

Image: Tandem X Visuals

The Sixth Sense , by M. Nigh Shatamalan, is famous for its shocking twist ending , unless you were in China, where the title literally gave it away.

Instead of the mysterious The Sixth Sense , the movie was released as He’s a Ghost! , ruining the entire plot before the opening credits even rolled. Spoiler is the understatement of the century here!

8

The Boy Drowned in the Chocolate Sauce

Image: Pete Wright

Denmark took a grim approach to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory : They renamed it The Boy Drowned in the Chocolate Sauce . While it’s true that Augustus Gloop’s chocolate river mishap is one of the film’s most memorable moments, it makes the movie sound more like a crime drama than a whimsical adventure.

Meanwhile, Portugal softened the title to Charlie’s Wonderful Story , and Spain went with A Fantasy World . Denmark gets the prize for morbid and hilarious, anyway!

9

Vaseline

Image: JUNHYUNG PARK

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s beloved musical Grease got a slick new name in Argentina: Vaseline . Can you guess the logic behind this choice?

Grease refers to the oily hair product used by 1950s greasers, so Vaseline was the closest match. While it technically makes sense, it definitely changes the feel of the movie. The Musical doesn’t quite have the same ring to it!

10

Fantastic Emotional Turmoil

Image: Dean Gibbons

Pixar’s Inside Out was a clever way to teach kids about emotions, but in Thailand, the title got extra dramatic . The movie was released as Fantastic Emotional Turmoil , which makes it sound like a high-stakes psychological thriller. We know the human experience can be difficult, but this is too much!

Other countries struggled with the translation too: in China, for example, it was The Great Team Inside the Head . Clearly, Pixar’s abstract concept wasn’t the easiest to put into words!