Mysteries of the American Dollar

Did you know that an ordinary U.S. dollar bill contains many secrets? But you'll have to study it closely to decipher its codes.

Take a magnifying glass and look just outside the upper left corner of the right shield that contains the 1. Do you see a tiny white owl or spider? Many people say they do, and some are convinced the engraving is a secret message. Is there any truth to the story? The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing says no--it's all in the eye of the beholder.
You may also be able to see random red and blue lines pressed into the paper; these are chopped silk threads. This unique paper has been specifically made by Crane and Company in Dalton, Massachusetts, since 1879. It's illegal for anyone else to make this special paper and the formula is kept top-secret.

On either side of President Washington's picture, you'll see a green, ten-character serial number. The number of every bill is recorded by the Treasury Department. If one is damaged in printing, it is destroyed and replaced by a new bill with a star in place of the last letter. Are you holding a "star bill"?
The saw-toothed seal to the left of the picture of the president identifies the Federal Reserve Bank that issued your dollar. The twelve Federal Reserve banks distribute money from the Treasury Department to smaller banks across the country. The series date to the right of the portrait is the year the bill's design was approved.
The first thing that most people notice about the back of the dollar bill is that weird pyramid topped by an all-seeing eye. Although some people believe that superstitious designers of the dollar placed the pyramid on our currency to ward off bad luck, the Treasury Department explains that the pyramid symbolizes strength, protection, and a foundation for growth.

The seal on the back of the bill shows a bald eagle with a burst of light containing thirteen stars, for the original thirteen states. The eagle's right talon grips an olive branch representing peace, it's left thirteen arrows standing for war. The eagle's head is turned toward the olive branch, representing a desire for peace.
Flip your dollar back to the front and take a good look at President Washington's eyes. Do they look dull and flat? If so, you may have a counterfeit on your hands. Bank tellers always stack bills face up so they can quickly spot a phony. About seventy-five fake bills are found in the United States each day.
You've probably noticed that only historical figures are portrayed on your money. In 1863, Spencer M. Clark, a worker at the Treasury Department, decided to put his own picture on 500,000 five-cent notes issued at the time. The unknown man's portrait caused such an uproar that Congress passed a law setting specific guidelines for issuing currency. Since then, the portraits used on money are those of deceased Americans whose places in history are well known.
We do some pretty funny things with our money. Did you know, for instance, that Americans hide about 91 percent of all their $10 bills? We tuck them away in jars, mattresses, wall safes, hollow trees, and other secret places.
Last year, 30,000 Americans sent money to Washington, D.C. that has been washed, burned, eaten by animals, or buried. If examiners can recognize more than half of the bill, they will replace it. Bills that are simply worn and dirty are also removed from circulation, and new dollars are printed to take their place. Each of the Federal Reserve banks replaces around $100 million every day.