So today I figured I’d try that “$10 bill facts test” floating around online. Grabbed my laptop, found one of those quiz sites, and thought, “How hard could it be?” Man, was I wrong.
The Embarrassing Start
First question pops up: “Who’s on the ten-dollar bill?” Easy, right? I scribbled “Alexander Hamilton” like a champ. Felt pretty smug until the next question: “When was he born?” Crap. My brain blanked. Guessed “1776” because… American money? Wrong. It’s 1755 or 1757—apparently historians argue about it. Already sinking.
Spiraling Downhill
Then came the real killers:
- “What building’s on the back?” Treasury? Nope. It’s the Treasury… but nah, it’s actually weirdly specific: the front of the Treasury Building. Why?
- “Which Secretary position did Hamilton hold?” Panicked and typed “Vice President.” Wrong. It’s Treasury Secretary. Felt like an idiot.
- “Who tried to replace him on the bill?” Blanked again. Apparently some woman suffrage group pushed for a woman? Vaguely remembered something about Harriet Tubman, but that’s the $20 bill mess. Total nonsense.
The Cold Hard Truth
By question eight (“Name ONE thing Hamilton did BEFORE the Revolutionary War”), I was just mashing random keys. Stared at my score: 3/10. Three! Even guessed his favorite color might be green. (It’s not a question, but my brain was fried.)
Turns out I knew squat about this green paper in my wallet. I thought Hamilton was just some guy from a musical. Didn’t know he:
- Founded the Coast Guard?
- Created the national bank system?
- Got shot by Aaron Burr in New Jersey?
School totally glossed over this. Felt like I’d been cheated.
Why This Matters
Here’s the kicker: If regular folks like me don’t even know whose face is on cash, how much history are we really carrying? Money’s everywhere—you’d think we’d know it better. But nope. We memorize celebrity gossip, but not Founding Father details. Sucks, honestly.
And get this: Hamilton almost got booted off the $10 bill for some redesign drama. Imagine erasing the guy! But hey, even money changes history.
Pathetic Aftermath
Wife walked in halfway through my retake attempt. Saw me googling “Hamilton trivia.” She just sighed: “Should’ve watched the musical.” Couldn’t argue. Even joked I might apply to work at the Treasury now since I learned so damn much.
Moral? Maybe poke that quiz yourself. Bet you’ll fail harder than me. And keep a browser tab open for quick fact-checks. Shame’s temporary; knowing who’s on your money? Priceless-ish.
