Infographic: How Money is Made

U.S. Currency 101 GREENBACKS Today, there is over $1 trillion of U.S. currency in circulation, and the process of making money costs a bundle. One of the reasons is that current security features and inspection measures are more sophisticated than ever before. Read more if you've always wanted to know more about U.S. currency, such as what it's made of, how it's made, how long it lasts, and how much it costs to make it. O Security Features © Portrait 100 watermark ONELLNDHEDD OLLARS that is visible TNTTEDSTYTES OFAMERICA FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE JB 00000000T B2 when held CIMEN up to light PECI Enhanced security IM PEC thread that glows under ultraviolet JB 00000000T light 100 Tilt the note to see the color- shifting bell in the copper inkwell change from copper 3-D security Improved color shifting ink that changes color when note is Micro ribbon and printing raised printing on $100s to green. (also look for small printed words around the blank space where the portrait watermark appears and along the golden quill and in the note borders) tilted 100 THE UNITED STYTES OFAMERICA Look for a large gold IN GOD WE TRUST numeral 100 on the SECIMEN SPEIMEN SPE CMEN SPEGIMEN SPECIM SPECIMEN SPECIMEN S back of the note. It helps those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination. ONE HUNDREDDOLLARS O How Bills Are Made c Linen 25% Cotton 75% 20,000 Crane Paper Company Company that makes U.S. Number of sheets of currency paper that come in each bundle Composition of U.S. currency paper currency paper Designers at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing design the currency. The Secretary of the Treasury approves the final design. Process ШШ The sheets are then dried for 72 hours. Intaglio printing process begins. This is where ink is placed into engraved areas of plates and pressed onto sheets. Intaglio printing is used for the portraits, vignettes, scrollwork, numerals and lettering that is unique to each denomination. During the offset printing process, background colors are added to blank paper. After Back During the Back Intaglio printing process, the green engraving is printed on the back of U.S. currency. Intaglio printing, sheets are dried for another 72 hours. Because the dried sheets stick together, automated joggers separate the sheets. Both sides of the Just like its name implies, the front of the bills are printed during the Face Intaglio printing process. sheets are mechanically examined using state-of-the-art com- puter technology. COPE-Pak presses UOCIS is a system that integrates computers, cameras, and sophisticated software to completely analyze an untrimmed printed sheet. The Nota-Sav is a system used to examine $ı bills. carry out the final printing process, which adds the two serial numbers, the black universal Federal Reserve seal, the green Department of the Treasury seal, and the corresponding Loads are then securely stored in the Federal Reserve Vault for future Federal Reserve pickup and distribution by the Federal Reserve Bank. identification numbers. O Longevity of Paper Money sl s5 s10 s20 s50 sl00 5.9 4.9 4.2 7.7 3.7 15 years years years years years years Money Costs Money $798 million How much it cost the U.S. to print and transport new cur- rency and destroy old currency in 2013 Price of Production Denomination sl and $2 s5 and $10 $20 and $5O $100 Cost Per Note OC5.4 OC9.8 9.8 G 12.7 and O Gold Standard e U.S. currency, or Federal Reserve notes, have not been redeemable in gold since January 30, 1934, when the U.S. ended the gold standard. However, according to the U.S. Mint, gold bullion is still held in Fort Knox, Kentucky. & CreditDonkey Sources: U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing U.S. Federal Reserve U.S. Mint CreditDonkey.com helps you save money with "donkey-proof" (easy to understand) financial tips and deals. OL --------------- %24