That there is about 500 billion of U.S. currency in circulation and most of it is held outside of the United States?
That to have your picture on a bill, you must be known for something you have done for our country and you must be deceased?
That "In God We Trust," was designed planned to appear on U.S. currency in 1957 and has
appeared on all U.S. money since 1963?
That the origin of the dollar sign is not known, but might be derived from the Spanish or Mexican "P's" that appeared on the peso, piastres or pieces of eight?
That the people used to save their cash in kitchen jars made of a clay called pygg, and people called them pygg jars. Later they became known as piggy banks and were made in the shape of pigs?
That the Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints 37 million notes a day with a value of around $ 696 million dollars?
That between the Fort Worth Texas and the Washington D.C. facilities, The Bureau of
Engraving and Printing uses about 18 tons of ink per day?
That currency is printed on cotton, not paper?
That if we laid each current U.S. bill printed side by side they would stretch around the earth's
equator about 24 times?
That on March 2,1999 the Liberty Dollar Bill Act was introduced after a presentation to
Congress by a group of students? The students want a short version of the U.S. Constitution
printed on the back of the one dollar bill. Click here to see the bill!
That in l943, pennies were only made of copper for a short time? This was during World War II,
and the U.S. needed the copper to make communications equipment for the war. Because of this,
pennies were made of steel.
That the 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most sought after items by coin collectors?
There are about 40 of these known to be in existence today.
That the way to find out if your 1943 penny is copper, is with a magnet? If you can't pick it
up with the magnet, it's copper, and it could be worth a lot of money to you?
That a 1943 copper cent was auctioned off on December 22,1999, for $112,500?
That when the U.S Mint discussed getting rid of the penny the public was outraged, especially
in Illinois, the home state of Abraham Lincoln.
That the ink and paper used to print money today, is the same as that used to print money
during the Civil War?
That in the early 20th century the U.S. Mint began producing commemorative coins that depict
events in U.S. history?
That the U.S. Mint and Bureau of Engraving and Printing have also made money for foreign
countries, such as Mexico,Philippines, and Cuba?
That there are only 9 engravers in the whole U.S. who do all the engraving for the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing?
That in the U.S., the $20 is the most counterfeited, followed by the $100 note, the $10 note,
the $50 note, the $1 note, and the $5 note? The $100 is the note that is most counterfeited
in foreign countries.
That in l997, a total of $136,205,241 in counterfeit U.S.currency was discovered worldwide?
That all engraving plates used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, have been engraved
in reverse?
That the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing work as manufacturing plants
and their only customer is the Federal Reserve Bank?
That every piece of money tells a story?
That the U.S. has been making coins since 1792?
That U.S. money has become one of the most important monies in the world?
That the U.S. Secret Service was established to stop counterfeiting ?
That in 1996 the 100 dollar bill was the first U.S. bill to undergo a major change since 1928?
That there may come a time when the United States will see the death of coins and paper
money?
That if your money is mutilated if you can account for 51% of your bill the Office of Currency
Standards in Washington, D.C. will gladly replace your money?
That the 1804 Dexter Dollar was auctioned off in 1989 for $990,000?
Copyrighted Numismatic News page 1, July 25, 1989, reprinted electronically by permission of Numismatic News/ Krause Publications,Inc./ Special permission received from Ulrich "Rick" Groth, Division Publisher.
That on April 8, 1997, another 1804 dollar was sold for $1,650,000?
That from December 1934 to January 1935 the Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed the
largest notes ever printed, which were $100,000 gold certificates? They were used for
transaction between the Federal Reserve Banks, but were not shared with the general public.
President Woodrow Wilson was honored on this bill.
That the pyramid on the back of the $1 bill represents strength and permanence and it
looks unfinished to symbolize the future growth of our country? The eye represents God
and the Latin phrase "Annuit Coeptis" means, "He has favored our undertakings." The
inscription"Novus Ordo Seclorum" means "New order of the ages.
That it only costs 4.1 cents to make a $1 bill. It costs the same thing to make a $100 bill?
That in the early 1900's you could return dirty money to Washington to be cleaned? If the
bill is in good shape, they would wash it, iron it, and reissue it.
That when bills finally wear out, they are sent back to the Federal Reserve Banks where a
machine sorts out the good, the bad, and the counterfeit? The counterfeit bills are sent to
the Secret Service. The worn out bills are pulverized and buried. They used to burn old
bills,but because of the lead in the ink, they are now buried.
That the Great Seal was first used on the back of the $1 bill in l935?
That Paul Revere is credited with engraving the plates used to print the first paper
money in the U.S.?
That before paper money was used, Americans used buckskins for money? This is where
we get the term "bucks."
That there are 4 automobiles and 11 lightposts on the back of the $10 bill?
That if you used a magnifying glass, you can see Abraham Lincoln sitting at the
Lincoln Memorial on the back of a penny?
That the $500, $1000, $5000 and $10,000 bills have not been printed since l946?
That the following Presidents were on the faces of U.S, notes?
Denomination of Bill | President |
$1 | George Washington |
$2 | Thomas Jefferson |
$5 | Abraham Lincoln |
$10 | Alexander Hamilton |
$20 | Andrew Jackson |
$50 | Ulysses S. Grant |
$100 | Benjamin Franklin |
$500 | William McKinley |
$1,000 | Grover Cleveland |
$5,000 | James Madison |
$10,000 | Salmon P. Chase |
$100,00 | Woodrow Wilson |
That Fort Knox in Kentucky, has been the place where the U.S. has stored its gold since 1938? It is a bomb-proof building. The gold is stored in concrete in steel vaults and is protected by guards with machine guns.
That money is transported to and from the Federal Reserve Banks by armored car. The vehicle is
covered with steel plates and is bullet proof.
That money doesn't grow on trees?
"A job is what we do for money; work is what we do for love."
