When you arrive at the BEP (Bureau of Engraving & Printing) transfer station you are greeted by four BEP police (yes, their uniforms call them police). You cannot take cell phones, cameras, any other electronic devices plus the usual -- weapons, backpacks (purses are hand searched), and food or drink. You put all the metal you are carrying into a plastic container. Then you go into a circular room, stand on the grey square and when cued move out the other side.
NOTE: Since I could not bring my camera all the pictures here are "taken" from the BEP website: http://www.moneyfactory.com/
The Visitor Center and Bureau of Engraving and Printing -- Department of Treasury
The Visitor Center Lobby
After registering for the tour and while we waited for it to start we had the good fortune to see some special displays tht were there for the week. One that was especially interesting was the "spider" press. It got its name from a large wheel with spokes in it that when rotated rolled the paper over the engraved plate. The man at the display actually used a replica of an old $5 plate and printed a $5 bill. The detail was amazing. Also fascinating that even these samples he printed are counted and recorded.
The tour was amazing. Million and millions of dollars were before us. The minimum amount that is in the process at any one time at the facility is $2.59 billion. Yes, billion.
As a stragety to prevent counterfeiting the US currency is redesigned every 7 to 10 years. In keeping with that a new series of currency with more color have been created. The $20 bill was introduced October 9, 2003, the $50 bill on 9/28/04, the $10 bill on 3/2/06 and the $5 on 3/13/08. The $100 bill is in the process of redesign and printing and at the BEP every place that works with the $100 bill is hidden by curtains. Years ago they also had $500, $1000, $5,000, $10,000 and $100,000 denominations which were not out in general public circulation but used by financial institutions. However, with the advent of electronic transfers these denominations were eliminated.
We learned about the paper, the several times it is printed, how much pressure is applied, how long the ink is allow to "cure" and how the serial numbers, seal and some other thing I cannot remember???? are put on. We also learned that the bills are not officially "money" until the serial numbers, etc. are put on and they are packaged and cataloged and put the the value "somewhere" on the premises. Additionally, we learned that the bills printed in Fort Worth actually have a FW on it.
It was particularly interesting to learn that the Federal Reserve meets several times a year to order the money. All the damaged and worn out and written on bills are destroyed and replaced by new bills.
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