Federal Reserve Chairman Photo

RWB

On the front of today’s Washington Post newspaper business section, there is a nice photo of Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. On the wall behind Mr. Bernanke, cropped so only part of the subject is visible, is a framed sheet of currency – they appear to be $2 notes. Most of you know how large such an uncut sheet is. In the photo, the sheet looks small and unimposing. Maybe the office is huge; maybe the sheet is only six subjects; maybe the photo is distorted by use of a wide-angle lens?

Is there an allegory here? Or just newsprint….

IGWT

You know how understated the Fed is. I read the small bills as a projection of inflation.

airplanenut

That's Dr. Bernanke, PhD '79

Aegis3

It's online here, registration/bugmenot may be required, note that it's the eighth photo in the collection. It looks like it's a selection of different sheets. The leftmost looks to be some sort of large size specimen/proof notes, while the second set seems to be something else.

roadrunner

There is a relationship here. Since Ben took office he's promised to reduce the value of a $2 bill to $1. He's well on his way.

roadrunner

Writersblock

After comparing images, I'd say they are 1914 Federal Reserve notes. The left most "column" are $100 dollar notes. The rather oval inside of the border, the large bold left hand seal and the basicly non-existant right hand seal all point to that conclusion. Nothing else in the US series really comes close.

The next "column" is more questionable since so little is visible. My guess though is that it is probably a 1914 FRN as well, and from the light/dark pattern of the portrait, probably the $50 notes.