- The Federal Reserve reports approximately $1.70 trillion in circulation as of January 31, 2019[i].
- In 2014 the Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced approximately $560 million every day[ii].
- The use of IN GOD WE TRUST on currency began in 1864 with the two-cent coin. The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883 and did not reappear until 1938. In 1956 congress passed a joint resolution declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto. IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper money in 1957[iii].
- The cost to print a $1 bill is 5.5 cents. The cost to print a $100 bill is 14.2 cents[iv].
- The cost to mint a penny is 2.06 cents. The cost to mint a five-cent coin is 7.53 cents. The cost to mint a ten-cent coin is 3.73 cents. The cost to mint a twenty-five cent coin is 8.87 cents[v].
- $960,105 was left at TSA checkpoints in 2018 up from $638,142 in 2013. The airport with the largest amount of money left at checkpoints is John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York ($72,392)[vi].
- It is estimated that 90% of all paper currency is contaminated with traces of cocaine. Most bills become contaminated through money counting machines or automated teller machines[vii].
- North Korea is suspected to be the largest counterfeiter of U.S. currency. North Korean “superdollars” are allegedly so good, they can circulate for years without being detected[viii].
- The highest denomination bill ever printed was a $100,000 gold certificate in 1934. The $100,000 note featured Woodrow Wilson and was only used for transactions between federal reserve banks. The Treasury stopped production of other large denomination bills including the $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 in 1945.
- A stack of $1 bills one mile high would contain more than 14.5 notes[ix].
- The average lifespan of a $1 note is 5.8 years. The estimated lifespan of a $100 note is 15.0 years[x].
- The only time a woman ever appeared on U.S. Currency was Martha Washington on a $1 silver certificate in 1886.
[i] The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “How much U.S. currency is in circulation.” Accessed: November 10, 2019
[ii] U.S. Department of the Treasury. “How much currency does the Treasury Department print every day.” Accessed: November 10, 2019
[iii] U.S. Department of Treasury. “History of ‘In God We Trust.’ Accessed: November 10, 2019
[iv] Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “How much does it cost to produce currency and coin?” Accessed November 10, 2019.
[v] CoinNews.net. “Penny Costs 2.06 Cents to Make in 2018, Nickel Costs 7.53 Cents; US Mint Realizes $321.1M in Seigniorage.” Accessed November 10, 2019.
[vi] Transportation Security Administration. “Travelers Leave behind $960,105 in unclaimed money at TSA checkpoints in FY2018.” Accessed November 10, 2019.
[vii] CNN. “90 percent of U.S. bills carry traces of cocaine.” Accessed: November 10, 2019.
[viii] Dick Nanto, Congressional Research Service. “North Korean Counterfeiting of U.S. Currency.” 2009.
[ix] U.S. Currency Education Program. “Currency Facts.” Accessed November 10, 2019.
[x] Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “How long is the lifespan of U.S. Paper Money.” Accessed November 10, 2019.