The US One Dollar Bill
Size, Composition &
Production
• US bills are 2.61 inches wide and 6.14
inches long and weigh 1 gram.
• Bills are composed of 25% Linen and 75%
Cotton.
• It costs the US government 4.2 cents to
produce a U.S. bill.
• Bills are printed by the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing.
LIFE SPAN
• The average dollar bill has a life span
of about 18-22 months
Facts
• The one dollar bill features the first
president of the United States
(George Washington).
The Dollar Bill—Pictures
and what they mean
• Current Bill came off the presses in
1957.
• It is made of fabric—not paper.
• There are blue and red silk fibers
woven through it.
More Facts
• Government uses a special ink to
confuse counterfeiters.
• Symbols are printed in this ink and
then the bills are starched to keep
them water resistant and crisp.
Front of the Bill
•
United States Treasury Seal is on the front (at the top of the bill are
the scales that represent balance, which specifically means a balanced
budget).
• In the center of the seal is a tool used by carpenters called a
T-square. This tool ensures a straight, even cut. This is
supposed to represent the honesty and straightforwardness of
the government.
Back of the Bill
• 2 circles which represent the Great Seal of the
United States.
– First Continental Congress requested Benjamin Franklin
come up with the seal
– Took him 4 years to come up with the seal and 2 years to
get it approved
• Look at left hand circle
– Do you see the pyramid? The face is lighted and the
western side is dark. This represents a country that
was just beginning. We had not begun to explore in the
west yet.
Left Circle –Back Side
• Pyramid
•Pyramid is un-capped representing the
unfinished building of the United States
•Inside the capstone is the all-seeing
eye which is an ancient symbol for
divinity
•Annuit Coeptis –means God has favored
our undertaking
•Novus Ordo Seclorum—means a new
order has begun
•At the base of the pyramid is the
roman numeral for 1776
Right Circle—Back Side
• Right hand circle is on every National
Cemetery in the U.S.
•Slightly modified it is the Presidential Seal
•The Bald Eagle is a symbol of victory
•He is not afraid of a storm and is
strong enough to soar above it
•He wears no material crown
(representing our recent break from
Great Britain)
•Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This
country can now stand on its own.
•The white bar signifies congress; a unifying
factor; the coming together as one nation.
Right Circle—Back Side
Continued
•In the Eagle's beak you will read, "E
Pluribus Unum", meaning, "one nation from
many people".
•Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars,
representing the thirteen original colonies,
and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling a
way.
•Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons.
He holds an olive branch and arrows.
Representing peace and right to preserve
peace through force if necessary.
•The Eagle always wants to face the olive
branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns
toward the arrows.
Final Fun Facts
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the Pyramid,
13 letters in the Latin above,
13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum",
13 stars above the Eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits,
and if you look closely, 13 arrows.