Know The Women Whose Signatures Feature In New US Banknotes

In a first, the United States will now carry the signatures of two women on two bill denomination notes respectively. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will soon unveil the first US banknotes printed with women’s signatures, which, according to her, is one of the few steps in a much more needed drive to advance initiatives towards gender equality.

The United States currency featuring new bills of denominations of 1 dollar and 5 dollars denominations will carry the signatures of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and US Treasury Chief Lynn Malerba.

Suggested reading: Janet Yellen Becomes The First Female US Treasury Secretary

US Prints Currency With Women's Signatures

Janet Yellen, who was the first woman to chair the United States Federal Reserve, was elected as the first woman to head the Treasury in January earlier this year. In the new move driven towards giving trailblazing women the recognition they deserve, the US decided to print new banknotes of denominations 1 dollar and 5 dollars with signatures of not just Yellen but also US Treasury Chief Lynn Malerba.

Malerba became the first native American to serve in a role as prominent as this one, and her commendable work through the economic situations in the country earned her his honour.

76-year-old serves as the 78th United States secretary of the treasury. She was nominated to become the head of the Federal reserve board in 2013 by former President Barack Obama. 69-year-old Lynn Malerba is one of the first native tribal women to lead a department as prominent as the US treasury.

Malerba, leader of the Mohegan tribe, could not hold back her tears as she officially signed the documents alongside Yellen. She stated that this moment is historical not just for her but for the native community as well seeing how far she has come and is now being recognised nationally. 

Yellen announced that the new currency is currently being produced at the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing site in Fort Worth, Texas. She further added that the latest advancement was a reminder of the contributions of not just the two but several women who have worked through decades as economists and in financial positions.

"Today should be a reminder of the path we have taken towards equality and inclusion." 

Yellen said that this move should serve as a reminder that while necessary steps are being taken towards the inclusion of one and minorities, they should not get complacent and instead work harder towards the goals that determine true equality.

Yellen was joined by the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund Gita Gopinath. After welcoming the new bills, Gopinath expressed that apart from the empowering decision, she also felt personally excited to send a dollar bill that carried a woman’s signature, which was never done before.