Why is Ben Franklin on the $100 bill when he wasn't a President?

Factual Questions
21

"If you could make a change in the people appearing on currency and/or coins, what change would you make? "

Give them a hair cut.

22

Cholo, Susan B. Anthony worked for decades to enfranchise American citizens. She fought to correct major societal injustices (her views on race and class notwithstanding). Anthony is a worthy American hero, and her inclusion on currency can’t just be dismissed as “political correctness.”

23

I’m surprised that nobody’s mentioned the one requirement for appearing on currency, or postage stamps – you have to be dead. (I think this is more tradition than law.)

In fact, “dead presidents” is a common slang term for moolah. I remember a bank robbery movie called Dead Presidents, which I knew was going to suck when the opening credits appeared over a close-up of the $100 bill – with Ben Franklin on the face, who obviously was never President.

24

Hint: If you should happen to work for a bank and receive a $10,000 bill, it would be worth your while to take out a loan and buy it at face value from the bank. Here on eBay is a nice picture of a $10K up for auction. As I write this, there have been 10 bids, the price is over $31,000 and the reserve has not yet been met

Some years back I knew a local bank manager who had done this with a $500 bill and nearly doubled his money.

25

Well, the US Treasury Dept. DID give them all facelifts and hair plugs on the new bills.

26

Then there are those indian fellows on the pennies and nickels…

27

I think the reason Sacagawea was chosen for the coin was because of the Information Age. She is commonly considered the first Search Injun.

(I’ll duck from the tomatoes now.)

28

Ewwwww, that’s baaaad.

Is there a General Question on the table here?

29

Doubt it. I’d throw it to MPSIMS if I wuz you.
{obligatory Firesign Theater quote follows, in a deep voice}

Benjamin Franklin…the only President of the United States…who was never…President of the United States…

30

For all those Dopers who have been to Vegas and seen the Million Dollar Display of $10,000. banknotes.

Guess what!

It ain’[t there any more. It got sold.