The news was leaked June 17 and at first people believed that Hamilton's face would be replaced entirely. The show refers to its title character as "the ten-dollar founding father." See Miranda's reaction below.
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew officially announced Jun 18 that Hamilton's face would remain, but would be joined by the image of a yet-to-be-chosen female.
He said Hamilton will share the sawbuck with the first woman on American paper currency in more than a century. She will be chosen with "national input" before the end of 2015. No date for the release of the new bills was specified.
"America’s currency is a way for our nation to make a statement about who we are and what we stand for," Lew reportedly said. "Our paper bills--and the images of great American leaders and symbols they depict--have long been a way for us to honor our past and express our values."
Among women who were depicted on various bills during the 19th century were Pocahontas and Martha Washington, according to Treasury officials. Miranda reacted to the news with a series of messages posted on Twitter:
Yay Women! RIP, my "10 Dollar Founding Father" lyric! I hope they put Eliza on it.
http://t.co/63Z51zKs1v
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel)
June 17, 2015
The delicious irony being that Aaron Burr was an ardent feminist. His ghost is high-fiving the WORLD right now.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel)
June 17, 2015
But Jackson stays? The MURDEROUS Andrew Jackson is still money? Cool. Cool cool cool. *laughs maniacally, but you're not sure if he's okay*
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel)
June 17, 2015
