# Treasurer signature on dollar **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770 "2006-04-15T08:30:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/1 "2006-04-15T08:30:57Z")
So I got this stack of bills all from 2003, and they all have the signature Rosario Marin, on them, except one, it says Anna Escobedo Cabral. So I thought maybe they changed treasurers in the middle of 2003, so I look it up, and it says wasn’t made treasure until November of 2004. And I found some more bills from 2004, and they all say Rosario Marin. So why is Anna Escobedo Cabral signature on that 2003 bill? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/2 "2006-04-15T09:34:42Z")
Just a WAG: because [Rosario Marin](http://www.answers.com/topic/rosario-marin) resigned halfway through 2003, you had no Treasurer until Anna Escobedo Cabral was confirmed, so she was kind of like an acting-Treasurer until confirmed in 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/3 "2006-04-15T13:42:13Z")
What do you mean, “from 2003”? Bills are not identified by when they were made, but by when the plates were. I guess they could take 2003 plates and add a 2004 signature, if they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/4 "2006-04-15T13:49:18Z")
> [@Hari Seldon](#): > > What do you mean, “from 2003”? Bills are not identified by when they were made, but by when the plates were. I guess they could take 2003 plates and add a 2004 signature, if they wanted. Right. A 2003 bill is from the 2003 _series_ of bills and not necessarily from 2003. And I seem to remember from a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing that the signature, serial numbers and seals are put on the bills just before they are shipped out. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/5 "2006-04-15T20:34:39Z")
> [@Hari Seldon](#): > > What do you mean, “from 2003”? Bills are not identified by when they were made, but by when the plates were. I guess they could take 2003 plates and add a 2004 signature, if they wanted. And that’s just what they did. **emcee2K**. I’ll bet if you look at your notes, the Cabral one will actually be dated 2003 **A**. The “A” was added to indicate a change of signatures. You don’t change the date on the notes until there is a _major_ change in design. But you add a letter after the date of the original design every time you change sigs. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/6 "2006-04-15T21:50:59Z")
In case anybody cares, the Treasurer of the US no longer carries around a gray metal box with a handle containing the nation’s money supply. The Treasurer today is advisor on currency and coinage to SecTreas, and a public spokesperson on financial education. Appointees are by tradition both female and of Latin American heritage, just because. [Cite.](http://www.treas.gov/education/duties/treas/treasurer.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/7 "2006-04-16T04:21:39Z")
Just to clarify: The series year changes when there is a major redesign of a note or when there is a new Secretary of the Treasury. If there is a new Treasurer of the United States but no other changes the series year stays the same but a letter is added to the year, such as 2004A. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/8 "2006-04-16T04:55:08Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > The Treasurer today is advisor on currency and coinage to SecTreas, and a public spokesperson on financial education. Appointees are by tradition both female and of Latin American heritage, just because. While they’ve been female since the Truman administration, I don’t think they necessarily have to be Hispanic. For instance, [Mary Ellen Withrow](http://www.treas.gov/education/history/treasurers/mewithrow.shtml) who served during the Clinton administration does not seem to be Hispanic. It seems to be Republican presidents that appoint Latinas to this office, probably as a sop to affirmative action. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/9 "2006-04-16T14:01:36Z")
> [@Swede Hollow](#): > > Just to clarify: The series year changes when there is a major redesign of a note or **when there is a new Secretary of the Treasury.** If there is a new Treasurer of the United States but no other changes the series year stays the same but a letter is added to the year, such as 2004A. bolding mine-sc I don’t think that’s correct. You only change the date on the bills when there’s a design change, period. You add a letter(or change the letter) when you get either a new Sec. of Treas. or a new Treas. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/10 "2006-04-16T14:08:19Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > You add a letter(or change the letter) when you get either a new Sec. of Treas. or a new Treas. So what’s the highest letter ever used? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/11 "2006-04-16T14:25:34Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > So what’s the highest letter ever used? From memory, the 1935H series of $1 silver certificates. ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/12 "2006-04-17T03:55:59Z")
So if the 2003 bill was made in 2004 after Anna Escobedo Cabral was confirmed, why go back to the 2003 series and revise that, why not revise the 2004 series, by adding an A? And if Rosario Marin resigned halfway through 2003, why is her signature on the 2004 series? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/13 "2006-04-17T04:37:18Z")
> [@emcee2k](#): > > So if the 2003 bill was made in 2004 after Anna Escobedo Cabral was confirmed, why go back to the 2003 series and revise that, why not revise the 2004 series, by adding an A? And if Rosario Marin resigned halfway through 2003, why is her signature on the 2004 series? There is no 2004 series unless the design was changed. [See this US Treasury FAQ](http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/currency/portraits.shtml#q4) > [@](#): > > The series date on currency notes does not change each calendar year as it does on coins, but only when there is a major revision in the basic design. The capital letter following the series year shows that a minor design change was authorized in a particular series. Such a change occurs after the appointment of a new Secretary of the Treasury or Treasurer of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/14 "2006-04-17T23:46:55Z")
“After the Secretary of the Treasury changes, a new series year is adopted (e.g. 1999). When the Treasurer of the United States changes, a suffix letter is added to the current series year (e.g. 1999A).” From [MoneyFactory.com](http://www.moneyfactory.gov/document.cfm/18/119). Apparently the U.S. Treasury has a different set of guidelines as their Bureau of Engraving and Printing when comparing the link from **David Simmons** versus the one above. Typical government mish-mash, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/15 "2006-04-18T00:12:59Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > While they’ve been female since the Truman administration, I don’t think they necessarily have to be Hispanic. For instance, [Mary Ellen Withrow](http://www.treas.gov/education/history/treasurers/mewithrow.shtml) who served during the Clinton administration does not seem to be Hispanic. I’d just like to say that I have a Google hit that Mary Ellen (née Dominguez) Withrow was [rumba](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhumba) champion of Central Ohio from 1959-61 inclusive. Unfortunately, I don’t. I’m just shittin’ ya. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasurer-signature-on-dollar/352770/16 "2006-04-19T00:13:25Z")
> [@Swede Hollow](#): > > “After the Secretary of the Treasury changes, a new series year is adopted (e.g. 1999). When the Treasurer of the United States changes, a suffix letter is added to the current series year (e.g. 1999A).” From [MoneyFactory.com](http://www.moneyfactory.gov/document.cfm/18/119). Apparently the U.S. Treasury has a different set of guidelines as their Bureau of Engraving and Printing when comparing the link from **David Simmons** versus the one above. Typical government mish-mash, huh? Interesting that they can’t get it straight. The US printed $1 silver certificates dated 1935 from 1935 until 1957. The date was the same, only a suffix letter was added when the **Treasurer** or the **Secretary of the Treasury** changed. So, the link from the Bureau and Engraving is just plain wrong. Off to email them. \*Note–it may be possible that the rules were changed in more recent times. I’ll let you know if I get an answer. \*\*addenda- I just looked in my pocket at $1 banknotes dated 1995, 1999,2001,2003 and it would appear that they **do** change the date when a new Sec. of Treas. is appointed. But it didn’t use to be that way. I’ll still email.