For my graphic design class in grad school, I had to redesign several bills of currency. I chose the US currency (‘cuz MURICA), and I wanted to do something that was both creative yet realistic. Because let’s be fair: if the US completely overhauled their green bills for something totally different, people would flip (remember when the $5 bill was changed to include purple colors).

It also happens to be 2019, which is the 50th anniversary of the moon landing (and the limited edition Oreos that commemorated the event were “stuf” of legend). To do my own commemoration, I wanted to do a “limited edition currency” that I could imagine America issuing for a special year: something obviously different, yet not radically unfamiliar.

I used micro-extended bold as my primary typeface, since it was a favorite font of NASA back in the sixties during the moon landing (it also happens to be my college’s typeface for all their branding, interestingly enough). As far as paper goes, I printed each bill on a glossy silver paper from Hobby Lobby to give it an official currency feel (as well as a sheen that screams SPACE).

For the first bill, I modeled it off of the official dollar bill. This bill is a totally different layout than all others in the series (particularly the back) and I wanted to reflect that in my space design. From the pyramid and seal, to the “ONE” written atop the numeral, I wanted it to be easily recognizable as a special edition of the US’s current one dollar bill.

Neil Armstrong is featured in a similar style as George Washington is on the original. Both his name and signature are included below him, and a moon appears behind him overlaid with an American flag and the year of the moon landing. Textured circles add security features to dissuade counterfeiters, and a complicated texture of network stars and atomic symbols create the border around the bill. In the top right corner is the number of the bill framed by a crescent moon. On the back is a repeat of the textured circles, as well as the traditional graphics of the $1 bill. Armstrong’s footprint is the featured image.

The five is modeled after the current bill, including the purple accents and large numerals. Buzz Aldrin is featured in a similar fashion as Abraham Lincoln, and behind him is featured the seal of the Apollo mission. Textured shapes are added for security, as well as “05” repeated in the background, similar to the current $5 bill. A picture of Aldrin is on the back with an overlay of his space suit in the background. Because of Aldrin’s outspoken faith in God, I included “In God We Trust” as a forefront of the back design. Also on the back are the phases of the moon in the borders.

The ten features Michael Collins, who piloted the mission. He was born in Rome, and an olive branch symbol is included to commemorate his birthplace. The shuttle is seen in the background, and security features include textured background shapes and “10” scattered over stars near the shuttle image. On the back is the rocket taking off, with a moon depicted next to it. Under UV lighting, the moon transforms into a crescent through the use of special ink pens.

I delivered the bills to my teacher in a mock birthday card written from Buzz Aldrin to Michael Collins, who celebrated his birthday on October 31 (about two weeks after my project was due). After reading about the three astronauts’ relationship and some of their hilarious quotes from the mission, I deliberately pretended that Buzz had made a poorly-designed card as a joke and included the new bills as birthday money with a heart-felt note. I even included Aldrin’s life verse with an attempt at his signature: a way I expected Buzz to sign personal letters.

I got an A on this project.