Little-known African Americans whose signatures have been on U.S. currency

For many decades, African Americans have made valuable contributions in the U.S. in areas such as governance, law, arts, science and medicine, diplomacy, among others, despite the attacks due to their race.

From the likes of Benjamin Banneker, Rosa Parks, Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks to Marylanders Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, these black men and women have played instrumental roles in American history.

In terms of governance, one of the highest governmental position then available to African Americans was the Register of the Treasury, which was an office of the United States Treasury Department. The Register, as part of their role, was to authenticate currency, bonds, and treasury notes, thus, their signatures were found on almost all U.S. currency until 1923, along with that of the Treasurer.

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From 1861 to the present day, only five African Americans have had their signatures appearing on U.S. currency. They are: