Seeing the face of Harriet Tubman staring back at you from a $20 bill
September 19, 2018 11:22 AM   Subscribe

"I was inspired by the news that Harriet Tubman would replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, and subsequently saddened by the news that the Trump administration was walking back that plan. So I created a stamp to convert Jacksons into Tubmans myself. I have been stamping $20 bills and entering them into circulation for the last year, and gifting stamps to friends to do the same." posted by not_the_water (46 comments total) 63 users marked this as a favorite
 
L-O-V-E, LOVE this!
posted by terrapin at 11:33 AM on September 19, 2018 [3 favorites]


*grabby hands* replace ALL the men
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:33 AM on September 19, 2018 [17 favorites]


YES!! STAMP IT !!!!
posted by Pendragon at 11:42 AM on September 19, 2018 [4 favorites]


That’s cool! I had no idea that among all the stupid petty things this administration has done, reversing the decision to put Tubman on the $20 was included.
posted by TedW at 12:05 PM on September 19, 2018 [23 favorites]


This is reason to start using paper cash again.
posted by meese at 12:07 PM on September 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


Why Adafruit thinks it's legal to stamp Harriet Tubman over Andrew Jackson on the US $20...

The Stamp Stampede people, at their website, have more detail abut the legality of stamping U.S. currency.
posted by LeLiLo at 12:15 PM on September 19, 2018 [6 favorites]


If you are unfamiliar with the Awesome Foundation (which funded this idea), its a grant-circle started by Tim Hwang in Boston and spreading around the country and world. A typical chapter is a non-voting/paying Dean and 10 people pitching in a $100 every month and give $1000 to the most 'awesome' proposal, no strings attached.

I'm the founder and Dean of the Oakland chapter and we always are looking for new Trustees, DM if you want to learn more. If there is a chapter in your area, and you want to have an active hand in making your community better, reach out and be the change you want to see in the world, or at least chip in $100 for it.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:18 PM on September 19, 2018 [8 favorites]


Which bill should we put Carrie Fisher's visage on
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:19 PM on September 19, 2018 [13 favorites]


Although he's on the way out, I wonder who we should stamp over John A. Macdonald in Canada?
posted by scruss at 12:19 PM on September 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


In related news, the U.S. Mint is still selling the gold coin featuring a Black Lady Liberty.
posted by fuse theorem at 12:22 PM on September 19, 2018 [21 favorites]


(Awesome Portland trustee chiming in, it's one of my favorite things that I do.)

I think we've had enough of Hamilton, let's put Rear Admiral Grace Hopper on the $100.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:23 PM on September 19, 2018 [15 favorites]


I love this!
posted by supermedusa at 12:35 PM on September 19, 2018


That black Lady Liberty coin is outstanding.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 12:38 PM on September 19, 2018 [13 favorites]


No link to purchase a stamp?
posted by pjern at 1:06 PM on September 19, 2018 [1 favorite]




I'm actually ok with this administration not touching the new bills. God knows how they'll redesign them further before approving them, and I would rather wait for a respectable administration that can handle the redesign with dignity.
posted by numaner at 1:14 PM on September 19, 2018 [7 favorites]


No link to purchase a stamp?

You can download artwork for the rubber stamp and a 3D model for the handles at this link.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 1:30 PM on September 19, 2018


> I'm actually ok with this administration not touching the new bills. God knows how they'll redesign them further before approving them, and I would rather wait for a respectable administration that can handle the redesign with dignity.

The White House on the back of the twenty would look so much more classy printed in gold foil.
posted by Leon at 1:35 PM on September 19, 2018 [3 favorites]


I was a bit cringe-y when I clicked the black liberty coin link but its great!! really really well done. I'm fairly impressed!
posted by supermedusa at 1:46 PM on September 19, 2018


You can download artwork for the rubber stamp and a 3D model for the handles at this link.

To most of us this is gibberish; where can I buy my lady stamps with unstamped currency
posted by schadenfrau at 1:46 PM on September 19, 2018 [14 favorites]


Which bill should we put Carrie Fisher's visage on

I have no doubt that Carrie Fisher was a wonderful person, but this seems like a kind of minimizing comment to jump to in response to a story about honoring a historically significant Black woman who was born into chattel slavery and saved hundreds of lives.
posted by dusty potato at 2:01 PM on September 19, 2018 [42 favorites]


I'm mildly amused at the amount of discourse given to hand-wringing over the legality of stamping money. I don't care if Trump signs a law making this illegal tomorrow; it is still great and something every American should do to every $20 bill they touch.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 2:03 PM on September 19, 2018 [9 favorites]


Or are people going to start whining about how stamping money is disrespecting the troops and what the troops fight for, because that's actually a lot more accurate than the idea that American soldiers are fighting for a flag.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 2:04 PM on September 19, 2018 [3 favorites]


Although he's on the way out, I wonder who we should stamp over John A. Macdonald in Canada?

Oh right! I'd forgotten about the soon-to-be-released Viola Desmond $10 bill.

I feel like it would be appropriate to stamp the remaining Macdonald bills with a Native, Inuit or Metis historical figure. But frankly the Native history our schools gave me is so lacking that I'm struggling to come up with an appropriate person. Like, I'm pretty sure most of the names I'm familiar with are people the British/White establishment approved of, and not necessarily people currently esteemed by their own communities.
posted by Secret Sparrow at 2:05 PM on September 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


I've been stamping Wheresgeorge bills since 2001 or something. I'm going to stamp 20s with that AND Harriet Tubman. Clearly, I live on the edge.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 2:16 PM on September 19, 2018 [3 favorites]


Is there a MeFi Wheresgeorge club? We should have a MeFi stamp too!
posted by numaner at 2:24 PM on September 19, 2018


We should have a MeFi stamp too!

That might fall under the "no advertising" legal no-no.
posted by clawsoon at 2:29 PM on September 19, 2018


it doesn't have to come from MeFi's officially
posted by numaner at 2:31 PM on September 19, 2018


I never got why Andrew Jackson was on money in the first place. The man literally killed a bank, for fuck's sake. Totally inappropriate.
I approve of this project.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:32 PM on September 19, 2018 [5 favorites]


DirtyPotato, thank you for calling me out. You are 100% right. I apologize for making that remark upthread.
posted by Hermione Granger at 3:45 PM on September 19, 2018 [9 favorites]


For those of us without a 3D printer, could we just use a service like Sculpteo? I sent them a message, will see what comes back & update here.

Meanwhile, I'm still poking around with the Lifehacker article about 3D printing services here.
posted by yoga at 3:57 PM on September 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


I feel like it would be appropriate to stamp the remaining Macdonald bills with a Native, Inuit or Metis historical figure. But frankly the Native history our schools gave me is so lacking that I'm struggling to come up with an appropriate person. Like, I'm pretty sure most of the names I'm familiar with are people the British/White establishment approved of, and not necessarily people currently esteemed by their own communities.

As someone not super familiar with Canadian history, Louis Riel at least?
posted by eviemath at 4:17 PM on September 19, 2018


I mean, Louis Riel replacing Macdonald would certainly be poetic, given that Macdonald had him hung for high treason.

People who lose rebellions are seldom remembered favourably in history books by the victors, and I not only got my public school education in Ontario, but in Macdonald's hometown. Most of what I was taught of Riel could be summarized as bad-man-led-rebellion-got-comeuppance. I gather the reality is a lot more nuanced.
posted by Secret Sparrow at 4:58 PM on September 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


Secret Sparrow: Most of what I was taught of Riel could be summarized as bad-man-led-rebellion-got-comeuppance.

I grew up in Alberta, so suspicion of a Métis rebel was balanced by the fact that he was, after all, a Westerner fighting the Eastern establishment. The tone was "An Interesting Episode In Canadian History In Which It Is Difficult To Pick Sides".
posted by clawsoon at 5:09 PM on September 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


Forget "Where's George"... "Where's Andrew"?

(clicks imaginary link to "wheresandrew.com" website and envisages The Supreme Tubman gazing out and shouting in modern fury):

"Fuck Andrew Jackson. I'm here now.
And if I gotta drag you by the scruff to the future, then so be it.
Or feel free to cry in your folk's basement (aka: your safespace) you white nationalist snowflakes."
posted by symbioid at 6:41 PM on September 19, 2018


DirtyPotato, thank you for calling me out. You are 100% right. I apologize for making that remark upthread.

it wasn't personal, so I appreciate your gracefully not having taken it as such! :)
posted by dusty potato at 9:23 PM on September 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


crap I just saw that I wrote your username out wrong, i am so sorry, dusty 😳
posted by Hermione Granger at 10:06 PM on September 19, 2018


Secret Sparrow: Like, I'm pretty sure most of the names I'm familiar with are people the British/White establishment approved of, and not necessarily people currently esteemed by their own communities.

Crowfoot immediately came to mind, and exactly fits your description. He was given secular sainthood by the Canadian and British establishment because he agreed to Treaty 7 and convinced other First Nations leaders to do so. The Canadian government didn't keep its side of the treaty, and many of his people (including Crowfoot's own children) starved as a result. I can imagine how that might cause re-evaluation of his legacy among the survivors.

I would feel weird, though, about prying into Blackfoot/Siksika culture just for the purpose of getting a face to stamp on a $10 bill. It would feel like invading the one last space that we left for them. The least I can do is let them decide how to celebrate their own heroes.
posted by clawsoon at 3:19 AM on September 20, 2018


I had no idea that among all the stupid petty things this administration has done, reversing the decision to put Tubman on the $20 was included.

Trump gonna Trump.

If he could get away with renumbering the presidents, remaining #45, making George W. Bush #44 and inserting Jefferson Davis to make up for the removal of the one disqualified for being the wrong colour being some random guy from Kenya who wasn't even born here, he'd do it.
posted by acb at 4:08 AM on September 20, 2018 [1 favorite]


I can hardly wait for the new future where you have to carry two wallets. You scope out the politics of the store on your way to cash register and present either some restamped cash with trumps and reagans, or some tubmans and obamas. Maybe the cash will get restamped so many times that there's huge buildup of blurry ink in the center. Or maybe just hole, either worn through or maybe cut out so that you can make a pretense of being neutral.
posted by 445supermag at 8:07 AM on September 20, 2018


Obligatory post on the Combahee River Raid [yaaah!]
posted by eustatic at 9:11 AM on September 20, 2018


To most of us this is gibberish; where can I buy my lady stamps with unstamped currency

Yeah, I clicked on this post super excited but the payoff is a little like 'CLICK HERE TO BUY WEED-INFUSED BEN & JERRYS' and then you click on the link and it's instructions for how to build your own heat lamp for indoor growing.
posted by duffell at 10:11 AM on September 20, 2018 [2 favorites]


I'm currently tinkering on my 3D printer but once I'm done I can print stamps for people that want them; I can do either the mold your own version or the flat plastic version.
posted by caphector at 10:12 AM on September 20, 2018 [3 favorites]


I'm currently tinkering on my 3D printer but once I'm done I can print stamps for people that want them; I can do either the mold your own version or the flat plastic version.

TAKE MY MONEY.

TAKE MY JACKSONS AND MAKE THEM TUBMANS.

SO I IN TURN CAN MAKE MORE JACKSONS INTO TUBMANS.
posted by duffell at 10:15 AM on September 20, 2018


I would like one too! also SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
posted by numaner at 3:11 PM on September 20, 2018


For future people - Please MeMail me rather than posting here.
posted by caphector at 11:48 AM on September 21, 2018


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