First Jackson got a bright green tinge, then Grant earned himself an American flag. Then Lincoln got a purple eagle, Hamilton was given the first line of the Constitution in swirly red text, and just last year, Franklin was given a color-changing bell.
But poor George Washington, the face of the $1 bill, hasn't gotten a makeover in more than 50 years. And thanks to a spending bill passed by Congress last week, he isn't likely to get an update anytime soon.
In the last 10 years, the Federal Reserve has redesigned the $5, $10, $20, and $50 bills, adding color and watermarks to prevent counterfeiting. But Congress and the president himself have pushed provisions in recent budgets to prevent the Treasury Department from spending any of its funds to give the $1 bill a new look, leaving Washington with the same design he's had since 1963, when "In God We Trust" was added to all Federal Reserve notes.
Poor George Washington, the face of the $1 bill, hasn't gotten a makeover in more than 50 years.
The last time the $1 had a real face-lift was in 1929. Even the rare $2 bill has seen a more recent upgrade, with its 1976 makeover.
For the last several years, budgets composed by the president and Congress have included specific language preventing the Treasury Department from using its funds to redesign the $1 bill. That provision was also included in this month's omnibus spending bill.