Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has a brand new signature to go along with his prestigious title.
The Treasury Department released a copy of Lew’s much-improved signature Tuesday, which is fortunately much more legible than the one he used in the past.
His signature, like that of past Treasury Secretaries, is featured on every bill printed under his or her tenure so the bill can be authorized as legal tenure.
Unfortunately, having a signature that looks like a series of loops doesn’t quite cut it.
Even the president wasn’t too thrilled with his chief financial officer’s penmanship at first.
“It was only yesterday that I discovered that we both share a common challenge with penmanship,” Obama quipped during the press conference announcing Lew’s nomination back in January. “Jack assures me that he is going to work to make at least one letter legible in order not to debase our currency, should he be confirmed.”
The process to add Lew’s signature to a batch of legal tender takes approximately 18 weeks according to CNN Money, as the Bureau of Printing and Engraving has to create a series of bills with new serial numbers and suffix letters and new plates have to be designed before bills can be printed.
His signature will appear on bills that go into print this fall, starting with the $5 bill.
Lew is not the only Treasury Secretary to have his signature edited upon taking office. His predecessor, Timothy Geithner, also had to modify his signature when submitting it to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.
