In July of 2015, treasury secretary Jack Lew announced plans to redesign the $10 bill to feature a woman, marking the first time in over a century that a female appears on any bill. The 43rd treasurer of the United States, Rosie Rios has been campaigning for the cause since being sworn in as the first female US treasurer in 2009. There are several reasons behind the redesign, which will be released in 2020- just in time for the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment. The first, and arguably most pressing reason for the update is security. Secretary Lew explains that “currency is primarily redesigned as necessary to address current and potential security threats to currency notes”. Simply put, the new bill will cut down on counterfeiting. Treasurer Rios also added that adding a woman to our mainstream currency was a nod towards the Obama administration’s support of gender equality. Secretary Lew explained that “with such a wide reach, America’s currency makes a statement about who we are and what we stand for as a nation . . . this decision of putting a woman on the $10 bill reflects our aspirations for the future as much as a reflection of the past”. Speaking of the past, it is important to remember that both Martha Washington and Pocahontas were displayed on bills in the 1800s. As for the woman to appear on the $10 note, the only requirement is that the woman is no longer living. Rios added;”What we’re [the US Treasury is] looking for is a woman who has contributed to the history of this country and that best represents the theme of democracy.” The front runners as of now seem to be Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Join the discussion by using the hashtag #thenew10 on social media.