Dollar Bill Facts

Many of is use dollar bills quite often without ever thinking about them. The U.S. Treasury claims there are billions of dollar bills in circulation. Though we often fail to notice with so much paper money changing hands, these bills have some interesting characteristics.

Lucky 13

The eagle on the back of the dollar bill holds 13 arrows in one talon. In the other he holds an olive branch containing 13 berries and 13 leaves.

Identification

Every dollar bill is labeled with letters and numbers showing which plate the bill was printed on and where on the plate the bill was located..

Size

A dollar bill weighs approximately 1 gram and measures 2.61 inches wide, 6.14 inches long and .0043 inches thick.

Features

A $1 bill can be folded in half 8,000 times before tearing.

Fun Fact

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints 16,650,000 dollar bills every day.

Ink Colors

The front of a $1 bill is printed in black ink and the back in green ink. This is why $1 bills are often called "greenbacks."

Resources

• U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
• U.S. Treasury Department