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TexasTowelie

(112,218 posts)
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 02:51 AM Jul 2015

Alexander Hamilton's descendant rankled at $10 bill change

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Doug Hamilton is just fine with plans to put a woman's portrait on U.S. paper money, but he'd prefer it if the Treasury Department would leave the $10 bill alone — particularly the prominent visage of his great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Alexander Hamilton.

The 10-spot is a source of family pride in Hamilton's house in suburban Columbus, a dignified symbol of the historical importance of his ancestor, whose picture has been on it since 1929. So naturally, Hamilton started making some noise when he heard about the proposal that has Alexander Hamilton sharing the note with a deserving woman yet to be chosen.

The 64-year-old salesman for IBM has joined a growing number of voices in a backlash against what he calls the "diminishing" of Hamilton, the first secretary of the Treasury who founded the nation's banking system.

"He's the father of paper money," says Doug Hamilton, who has a son and grandson carrying the name of their famous ancestor. (His daughter, Elizabeth, was named for Alexander Hamilton's wife.)

Read more: http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/business_news/article_21e86025-da33-5386-a7d3-88035946b585.html

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MADem

(135,425 posts)
1. I am rankled, too, Doug--I think the swap needed to happen on the twenty.
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 02:59 AM
Jul 2015

And I agree with his logic, too.

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)
2. First I do not think being the father of paper money is something to brag about and second, no
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 03:01 AM
Jul 2015

he wasn't the father of paper money. the Chinese had it for centuries before the US and Europeans were using it in the 1600s. The man sounds kind of ignorant about his own ancestor.

merrily

(45,251 posts)
7. I agree, but would also any member or group of members of First Nations. However, not instead of a
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 04:09 AM
Jul 2015

woman on another bill, but in addition.

The reason they are talking about a female now is that the 100th anniversary of female suffrage is approaching. I think the woman put on a bill for commemorating women's suffrage should be a hero of something related to women having the vote. I very much favor an African American "suffragette," though I would also like to see other African American heroes on other currency. That should have happened on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, but we still had fucking Jim Crow then.

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)
4. "The Father of Paper Money"?
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 03:02 AM
Jul 2015

I don't think so.

Paper money originated in China.

The first European country to introduce it was Sweden, in the 1600s. Unfortunately, it was such a disaster that its main promoter, a banker, was sent to jail.

The only time paper money was used to any great extent in the colonies/states during Hamilton's time was the Continental Currency, an experiment with paper that was such a disaster that it gave rise to the expression, "Not worth a Continental".

 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
10. It should be the $20 not the $10 that gets the change
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 09:13 AM
Jul 2015

There was a "Woman on the 20" movement which promoted this cause.

Jackson should be the one replaced, not Hamilton.

Johonny

(20,851 posts)
13. I believe the US 20 is the most recognized bill in the world
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 11:42 AM
Jul 2015

so there is a huge movement not to change it because it is generally accepted in many countries whose currency is less than stable. Knowing that and having traveled to those countries, I wouldn't change the 20$.

BKH70041

(961 posts)
11. I can understand that.
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 09:58 AM
Jul 2015

I'll predict if they do anything at all their will be one of the bills that share a woman's image with the one that's already on it now. Not at the same time, but 1/2 the bills printed are the current person and the other half the new person.

As for the $20, I prefer to leave Jackson on there. He's a good member of the Democratic Party and whose life embodies the foundations upon which the party still functions today.

kentuck

(111,098 posts)
12. Andrew Jackson is one of the founders of the Democratic Party...
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 10:55 AM
Jul 2015

What the hell are you Republicans talking about??

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