For the first time in the history of the dollar, the notes of the US currency now bear the signatures of two women, including that of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who symbolically signed the first "edition" of the notes on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.
Next to Yellen's signature is that of Marilyn Malerba, who has been U.S. Treasurer since September. Malerba, the chief of the Mohican tribe, is the first Amerindian to hold the post.
"This is the first time a Treasury Secretary's signature will appear on banknotes and the first time two women's signatures will appear on our currency," Yellen commented, speaking at one of the two mints where the notes are printed. "Today, it's not about me or the new signature on our currency. It's about our collective work to create a stronger and more inclusive economy."
According to Yellen, 62 percent of the ministry's staff are women and many of them hold important positions.
"This is a historic moment," commented Malherba for her part.
The notes, initially of $1 and $5, will go into circulation early next year.
"I have to admit: I spent a lot of time practicing my signature," Yellen chuckled. "Although it is customary for finance ministers to put their signatures on our country's banknotes (...) the Founding Fathers did not take into account what appears to be a common trait of finance ministers: horrible handwriting," she joked.
Tim Geithner, who was Treasury Secretary under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, even had to change his signature to make it legible, Yellen explained. The same happened with his successor, Jack Liu (2013-17), about whom Obama had said he would have to try to make "at least one letter of his signature readable."
Source: CNA
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