Every banknote (except for 10 countries I am told) contains at least 1 signature and usually two. And 99% of the people using the currency probably have no idea who these people are. Let’s start with the first question; why are there signatures on banknotes?

The First Signatures on Banknotes

The first banknotes were more like bank checks and I.O.U.s than anything else. In 1694, when the Bank of England was first formed, banknotes were handwritten or contained only a small amount of pre-printed text, and someone at the bank would write out the amount and sign it. This piece of paper was exchanged for some value deposited at the bank. This piece of paper was backed by the authority of the person signing it. Having confidence in the backing of a banknote is key. Because unlike coins which had inherent metal value, paper banknotes only have value if someone else will exchange it for value.

Great Britain/England 10 Pounds | 1964 | P-376a |
Source: Banknote World Educational

Who Guarantees Banknotes?

It makes sense therefore for someone important at the bank or whatever organization guarantees the value of the paper currency. In most governments, the central bank is led by a Governor and reports into a Finance Minister who reports to the countries’ leader. Having the Bank Governor and Finance Minister sign banknotes makes some sense but, these roles are often hidden in a government’s bureaucracy. Wouldn’t someone get more confidence in a banknote if the leader of a country sign them? The Finance Minister, the leader and in most cases, the Bank Governor are political roles, so political allegiance is not the reasons to not have the leader’s signature on a banknote.

Signature on $5 Canadian Banknotes

As with many banking topics, the reason for who signs the banknotes is steeped in tradition and archaic laws. In England, the Chief Cashier’s signature is on banknotes. This is probably a tradition from a time when the governor of a bank didn’t want to be writing banknotes all day. So this responsibility was delegated to the head of all cashiers.

Canada 5 Dollars | 2006 | P-101Aa |
Source: Banknote World

Canadian & US Banknotes

In Canada, the Governor and his/her deputy sign it. No one in the government actually sign them. Maybe it is a surprise to some, but the Canadian government does not stand behind the currency if the bank goes belly-up. Euro banknotes are signed by the President of the ECB, but again no one from a country government. In the US, the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Treasury sign it. But US currency is issued by the Federal Reserve which is specifically not part of the federal government. Why isn’t the signature of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve on banknotes along with the Treasurer or Secretary of the Treasury? Ultimately, all Federal Reserve notes (US Dollars) are obligations of the US government. So having someone from the government on the notes makes sense, but why 2 people? And why the Treasurer?

Today that role seems to be more administrative, while the Secretary of the Treasury is more involved in monetary policy and budgeting. My guess? History. Even before there was a Federal Reserve System, the Register of the Treasury and the Treasurer signed banknotes. When the Fed was established in 1913, no one wanted to rock the boat or explain the complex relationship between the Federal Reserve Bank System and the US Government.

Signature on USD Banknotes
Source: AS

4 thoughts on “Who’s Signature is on Your Banknotes?

  1. ANTENEH HABTEWOLD

    IN ETHIOPIA, THE GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK WHICH, HERE, IS CALLED NATIONAL BANK OF ETHIOPIA SIGNS THE MONEY=BIRR NOTES. HE IS A YOUNG MAN FOR A CENTRAL BANK AND IS APPOINTED RECENTLY BY THE PM. HE SIGNED HIS FIRST BIRR NOTES LAST FEW MONTHS AGO, MIHRETU MAMO, HIS NAME IS. HE HAS A 2ND DEGREE FROM HARVARD UNIV THOUGH IT IS NOT USUAL FOR ANYONE ETHIOPIAN EDUCATED HERE TO GO TO HARVARD LOL. I BELIEVE, ALL THE REASONS WHY THIS OR THAT SIGNS OR NOT SIGNS IS A MATTER AMONG OTHER MATTERS THESE GOVERNMENT HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT OR FOR THAT MATTER ANYONE ELSE PERSON. THEN WHOSE DECISION IS IT? IF U CAN ASK ME THAT I WILL TELL YOU WHOSE DECISION EXACTLY IT IS. YOU WANT ME TELL YOU NOW? IT IS THE MF GRAND MASTER’S DECISION. WHO, WHAT? YOU CANT BE ASKING ME THAT OR ANYONE ELSE PERSON SINCE EVERYBODY/HUMAN CLAIMING TO BE SO IS A ROBOT EXCEPT THE GRAND MASTER. IF YOU ASK ME OR LOL AT ME CALLING ME DELUSIONAL, IT IS A PROGRAMMING=SCRIPT IN YOU AUTHORED AND DEPLOYED ON YOU ROBOTS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS BY THE GRAND MASTER AND A GLOBAL NEURAL NETWORK SYSTEM IE BEING ENFORCED BY …… WHO? YR WIFE SMART ASS ROBOT LOL. GO FUCK YOURSELVES MY DEAR ROBOTS AND FUCK THE GRAND MASTER, I AM NOT HIS FAN EVENIF I OWN HIS ASS LOL. RECONCILE THIS AND YOU SHALL SHAPE SHIFT INTO A NATURAL HUMAN BEING OR MAYBE RATHER CORRECTLY INTO A NATURAL ANGRY DOG.
    YRS RESPECTFULLY
    LOL FUCK ME….

    NB: SO, WHO SIGNS IT? DADDY LOL.

    Reply

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