HOW MONEY IS MADE
PAPER MONEY WAS FIRST ISSUED BY THE US GOVERNMENT IN 1861 AS A WAY TO PAY FOR GOODS AND SERVICES RELATED TO CIVIL WAR COSTS.
FINAL CURRENCY DESIGNS ARE ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. THE BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN.
DESIGNING A NEW NOTE CAN TAKE SEVERAL YEARS AND MULTIPLE HANDS.
THEY ALWAYS FEATURE A PORTRAIT OF AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL FIGURE ON THE FRONT AND WITH A NOTABLE AMERICAN MONUMENT OR THEME ON THE BACK.
AFTER A DESIGN IS LOCKED, AN ENGRAVER RECREATES THE DESIGNERS DRAWING IN STEEL.
MONEY ISN'T ACTUALLY MADE FROM PAPER BUT PRINTED ON A MATERIAL MADE FROM 75% COTTON AND 25% LINEN.
AFTER THE 72 HOUR DRYING PROCESS, THE FRESHLY PRINTED CURRENCY PASSES THROUGH A SERIES OF RIGOROUS PHYSICAL AND MECHANIC INSPECTIONS.