why is benjamin franklin on the $100 bill
Benjamin Franklin is on the 100‑dollar bill because he was one of the most influential Founding Fathers and a symbol of American innovation, diplomacy, and economic thought, even though he was never president.
Why Is Benjamin Franklin on the 100 Dollar Bill?
Not a President – But a Founding Giant
Most U.S. banknotes feature presidents, but Franklin is an exception because his impact went far beyond holding office.
- He was a leading Founding Father, central to the push for independence and the creation of the new nation.
- He was the only major founder to sign all key founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and later the Constitution.
- By the late 1700s he was arguably the most famous American in Europe, giving him huge symbolic value as the “face” of the young country.
In short, the 100 doesn’t honor presidential power; it honors foundational influence.
Diplomacy, War, and Money
Franklin’s role in finance and diplomacy makes him a natural fit for a high‑value note.
- He helped secure French support in the American Revolutionary War, including military aid and loans, which were crucial for victory.
- He promoted trade and financial ties with European powers, shaping the early American economy.
- As a printer, he worked with colonial currency and early American coinage, helping design and think about how money should look and function.
Because of this, some historians say he helped “invent” the American approach to money—both technically (design, anti‑counterfeiting) and philosophically (frugality, hard work, trust).
Symbol of American Values
Putting Franklin on the 100 is also about what he represents.
- Intellect and science : His experiments with electricity, inventions like the lightning rod, and scientific fame make him a symbol of American ingenuity.
- Practical wisdom : His sayings about thrift and work ethic (for example in Poor Richard’s Almanack) tie directly into ideas about responsible use of money.
- Civic duty : He pushed ideas of public service, community improvement, and civic responsibility—values the government wanted associated with its highest‑commonly‑used note.
Unlike many others on U.S. currency, Franklin stands more for intellect and diplomacy than for formal political authority, which makes his placement on the $100 bill distinctive.
Who Decided to Put Him There?
The choice was ultimately an official one, not an accident or myth.
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury, particularly the Secretary of the Treasury, selects who appears on different denominations.
- When the modern $100 Federal Reserve Note was first issued in the early twentieth century, Secretary of the Treasury William G. McAdoo is widely credited with wanting Franklin on the note, and that design choice has stuck.
- Treasury officials also aimed to represent a wider range of notable figures, not just presidents, which is why Franklin (and Alexander Hamilton on the $10) are honored.
So the answer is partly symbolic and partly institutional: he fit the role, and the people in charge chose to keep him there.
A Quick Modern Angle
Today, the $100 bill is one of the most recognized and widely used U.S. banknotes worldwide, which amplifies Franklin’s visibility as a global symbol of American history and finance.
- Newer 100s include advanced security features—3D blue security ribbon, color‑shifting ink, watermarks, and security threads—wrapped around Franklin’s portrait.
- Despite the growth of digital payments and cards, the $100 note remains a key store of value and an icon of U.S. currency, so Franklin’s face continues to “travel” globally.
TL;DR: Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill not because he was president, but because he was a central Founding Father, a crucial diplomat and financial thinker, and a powerful symbol of American ingenuity and values, chosen and kept there by Treasury decision over time.
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