the anatomy of a dollar bill
Gree acks. Moolah. Dough. Benjami . All nicknames for the one thing were all in an endle quest to get more ofcash money. Its as much a part of our everyday lives as is sleep, food, even breathing. But have you ever really sto ed to take a look at these little green mo ters that seem to run our lives?
If you really take a closer look at our notes of legal tender, theres really quite a bit going on. So the next time youre not busy ending oneor if you have a olutely nothing else to dograb a dollar bill from your wallet and take a good long look at it. After you read this article, youll finally know what all those symbols and strange words mean.
First things primarily, feel the money in your hands. Doe t really feel like paper, does it? Thats becaemploy it i t. Paper money i t really paper at all. Its actually a linen and cotton blenda cloth! Thats why it doe t fall apart when it goes in term of the washing machine. In fact, there are even tiny red and blue silk fibers ru ing in term of each bill.
Now, take a good look at the overall design. The dollar bill we employ today primarily was primarily put into circulation in 1957. The ink employd for printing is made of a secret blendone of many built-in security features employd to prevent counterfeiting.
Take a look at the front primarily, to the right of the portrait youll notice a green stampthe seal of the U.S. Treasury. It includes scales representing a balanced budget, a carpenters square signifying an exact cut, and a crucial to the Treasury itself. On the front, youll also notice green serial numbers, the signatures of the U.S. treasurer and secretary of the treasury at the time the bill was printed, and the seal of the mint where the bill was printed.
Now, turn the bill over. Youll notice a circle on either side. Together, they represent the Great Seal of the USA, created by Benjamin Franklin and a group of our countrys founders in 1782. Go to the left circle primarily and look at the pyramid. The face is lighted while the western side remai dark. The darkne signifies the Western U.S., which had yet to be explored. The unfinished pyramid represents the unta ed potential of the country, while the all-seeing eye hovering above is symbolic of a divine being overseeing mankind. In this circle, youll find two Latin phrases, A UIT COEPTIS (God has favored our undertaking), and NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM (A new order has begun).The Roman Numerals at the base of the pyramid tra late to 1776.
The circle on the right might look more familiar to you. Thats becaemploy its prevalent on many national monuments, cemeteries, andthough slightly tailoredis also the Seal of the President of the USA. The centerpiece of the Seal is the Bald Eagle. It was selected as the official symbol of the U.S. for a couple of reaso : Though not afraid to weather a storm if he must, the eagle primarily looks to fly above it. Also, though it may a ear so, the eagle wears no actual crow ymbolic in the countrys break from the King of England. Additionally, the eagles shield requires no su ort; it now can stand by itself.
Other specifics of note: the white bar on the top of the shield represents the unifying power of congre , the term E PLURIBUS UNIM mea one nation from many people, and the 13 stars signify the 13 original colonies. The eagle hancients an olive branch in one set of talo arrows in the other. His gaze, though fixed at the peace-representing olive branch, wont hesitate to turn to the sling of arrows if need be.
So there you have it; all you ever intend toed to know about the design ideas behind our beloved U.S. currency. Use it to enlighten guests at your next di er party, or inform the guy at the coffee shop as you hand him a five dollar bill for that latte.
