In what some might say is an embarrassing gaffe Groupon, the on-line discount company, released a coupon for President’s Day featuring President Alexander Hamilton as “undeniably one of our greatest presidents…”
Unfortunately, although their heart may have been in the right place, it is easy to deny, since Alexander Hamilton never actually served in the US’s highest office. Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers of the US; chief of staff to General Washington; an influential promoter and interpreter of the Constitution; the founder of the first American political party; and the founder of the country’s financial system. He has a great résumé, yes, but he was never President.
Groupon issued a $10 bill to be used with a $40 purchase, with Hamilton featured on the bill. Since Hamilton adorns real $10 bills it is easy to understand how Groupon could have made the mistake to think that Hamilton served as President, if you assume that our paper money only uses former Presidents as adornment.
The promotion for the coupon, which was released last Friday explained that, “Groupon Celebrates Presidents Day by Honoring Alexander Hamilton,” telling their customers to “Commemorate a man historically powerful enough to be on money with $10 towards $40 on a local purchase while they last.”
The rest of the release, which was still up on Groupon’s press page on Sunday continued, “The $10 bill, as everyone knows, features President Alexander Hamilton — undeniably one of our greatest presidents and most widely recognized for establishing the country’s financial system.”
Compounding the mistake on the website, there was also a picture of the $10 bill with the following caption: “President Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill.”
