Money.. Money.. Money.. We all work for it, We gain it, We save it, We spend it. Money is something we all use every day and certainly does make the world go round but have you ever take time to study your money? Here below 13 interesting facts you probably didn’t know about US currency bills and coins.
First Paper Money
In America, Paper currency was first introduced in 1690 by Massachusetts Bay colony. This paper bills printed by U.S. Bureau of engraving and printing and U.S. coins were produced by U.S. mint
In 1862, U.S. department of treasury issued first paper currency note to make up the shortage of coins. There was a shortage of coins, because coins were made of gold and silver, so people start hoarding them rather than buy items.
How Much Currency Notes Printed Every Day?
The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing makes 38 million notes that approximately $655 million in currency every day and in 2014 only, they printed around $2.2 billion bills in $1 alone. But this doesn’t means $655 million more currency notes circulating today than that of yesterday, 95% of this is to replace old, torn and badly damaged notes that already in circulation.
US Currency Bills Contains Dangerous Bacteria’s
A study in 2002 found that approx 94% U.S. currency bills contains bacteria’s, out of them 7% contains harmful pathogens that money can make you sick and cause staph infection and pneumonia. Later in 2009, a scientific research found that 97% of bills have been contaminated by traces cocaine.
Denomination of US Currency Bills First Printed
1 cent, 5 cents, 25 cents and 50 cents were the denomination of notes first printed in U.S. Presently $1, $2, $5, $10, $50 and $100 currency notes are in circulation while higher currency bills of $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 are also in circulation previously but on July’14 1969 U.S. stopped distribution because with more securing banking technologies these denomination were no longer use for bank transfer.
$100,000 Bank Note
$100,000 note is the largest bank note printed in 1934 and it was actually a Gold Certificate issued in 1934. This note depicting the face of President Woodrow Wilson and were used for transactions between Federal Reserve banks, not for general circulation.
African American on U.S. Currency
No portrait of African American appear on U.S. currency note, but commemorate coins issued in 1940 were bear the portrait of African American George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington, followed by more recently release of Jackie Robinson Coins.
Ripped Bills are Redeemable
If you have more than 50% part of bill, U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) will redeems that partially or badly damaged currency as free public service. Every year U.S. treasury handles and redeems approx 30,000 mutilated bills that value around $30 million.
Signature on US Currency Bills
In United State, bank notes bear the printed signature of Treasurer of United State and the Secretary of Treasury. These signatures are for security reason that is hard to duplicate by hand.
Facts: U.S. currency notes bear the signature of four African American men who served as registers of treasury and one African American woman who served as treasurer of United State.
Woman on US Currency Bills
The only woman to ever appear on U.S. dollar is Martha Washington whose face was appeared on the face of the $1 silver certificate at the end of the 19th century in 1886 and 1891.
The $2 Note
2 Dollar bill never worth more than $2, but some people thought this is more valuable and worth more than $2 and collect them. If you think U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing never print 2 Dollar bills, then you are wrong. U.S. BET never stops circulation of $2 bill but slow down printing.
Life Span of US Currency Bills
Lifespan of U.S. currency notes depends on denomination of the notes. According to U.S. BEP, here is average life span of U.S. currency notes,
| Denomination | Average Lifespan |
| $1 Bill | 22 Months |
| $2 Bill | 16 Months |
| $5 Bill | 18 Months |
| $10 Bill | 24 Months |
| $50 Bill | 55 Months |
| $100 Bill | 89 Months |
Average lifespan of U.S. currency notes is 18-22 months while coins last for more than 25 years. Partially or badly damaged notes are taken out of circulation and redeem by U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Paper Money is Not Actually Paper
As of Indian currency notes, our so called paper currencies are not actually made of paper, it is made of cotton and linen material. U.S. currency paper composed of 75% cotton and 25% linen blend with red and blue synthetic fibers running through it which make it more durable. That’s why Dollar bills still look like dollar after a long journey in washing machine.
Image on US Currency Bills
23 U.S. presidents have appeared on official U.S. currency notes, coins and commemorative coins in United State. Here a list ofUS currency bills with image of U.S. president that appeared,
| Denomination | President | When Added To Currency |
| 1 Dollar | George Washington | 1869 |
| 2 Dollar | Thomas Jefferson | 1869 |
| 5 Dollar | Abraham Lincoln | 1964 |
| 20 Dollar | Andrew Jackson | 1915 |
| 50 Dollar | Ulysses Grant | 1914 |
| Denomination | Non-President |
| 10 Dollar | Alexander Hamilton (First US Secretary of Treasury) |
| 100 Dollar | Benjamin Franklin (US Founding Father) |
Other Facts:
- Coins are usually made of copper and another element such as nickel or zinc.
- Our present currency measures 6.14 inches long and 2.61 inches wide and thickness is 0.0043 inches.
- The security thread in $5 bills and above will turn blue if they are held under ultraviolet light.
- Back of 1 Dollar note is printed in green, that’s why this Dollar bills is sometimes called greenback.
- In 1998, there are more than 10 billion pennies were made.
- Approx 48% of bills printed by U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing are 1$ notes.
- BEP says it would take 4,000 double folds first backward and then forward before a note will tear.
- In 2009, the exact percentage of $1 bills is 42.3%.
- Most people save $2 bills, think they are rare and so valuable.
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