What Is U.S. Currency Printed On?

U.S. currency paper is extremely durable. Unlike most paper, which is produced with wood pulp, there are no wood fibers or starch in U.S. currency paper. Manufacturers of paper used to make U.S. currency must abide by strict specifications of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

  1. The Paper

    • Currency paper is composed of 75 percent cotton and 25 percent linen fibers. The strength of the paper comes from continuous refinement of the raw fibers until the desired texture is achieved.

    Red and Blue Fibers

    • Red and blue synthetic fibers of varying lengths are embedded evenly throughout the paper to ensure counterfeit reproduction is difficult.

    Watermark

    • Watermarks are added to the paper during the paper making process by varying the paper density in a small area.

    Security Thread

    • Security threads are thin threads or ribbons that appear in different locations on a bill and help to guard against some counterfeiting techniques. Each security thread contains the denomination number and glows when held under a long-wave ultraviolet light.

    Fun Fact

    • The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced approximately 26 million notes a day during fiscal year 2009 with a face value of roughly $907 million.

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