The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

09/16/2022

For this the BEP is highlighting the swearing in of Chief Marilynn Malerba as the Treasurer of the United States this past Monday. After Secretary Janet Yellen swore in Malerba, BEP’s Director, Len Olijar, provided brief remarks and presented the signature along with the Secretary and new Treasurer.

With this ceremonial signing, the BEP is excited to issue currency bearing the signatures of a Native woman and a female Secretary of the Treasury in the near future.

Prior to becoming Treasurer, Malerba served as the 18th Chief of the Mohegan Tribe and is the first Native American and first woman to serve in this position.

09/16/2022

For this BEP is highlighting the swearing in of Chief Marilynn Malerba as the Treasurer of the United States this past Monday. After Secretary Janet Yellen swore in Malerba, BEP’s Director, Len Olijar, provided brief remarks and presented the signature along with the Secretary and new Treasurer.

With this ceremonial signing, the BEP is excited to issue currency bearing the signatures of a Native woman and a female Secretary of the Treasury in the near future.

Prior to becoming Treasurer, Malerba served as the 18th Chief of the Mohegan Tribe and is the first Native American and first woman to serve in this position.

09/15/2022

: The train tracks behind the BEP at 14th and D St SW used to be a railyard used by President FDR. During his presidency, he began and ended almost every train trip at the BEP station in a highly secured train equipped with bullet proof glass, escape hatches and reinforced steel floors and walls.

09/15/2022

: Have you ever wondered about the train tracks at the intersection of 14th and D St SW, behind the BEP Annex building? These tracks and the now-parking lot used to be a thriving railyard used by none other than President Franklin D. Roosevelt. World War II had demanded a new level of presidential protection and the BEP railyard provided just that. From 1941 until his death in 1945, FDR began and ended almost every train trip at the BEP railyard in a custom, highly secured train equipped with three-inch bullet proof glass, escape hatches and reinforced steel floors and walls.

Check out the National Park Service website for more info and images of the train: https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presidents/us_car_number_one.html

09/12/2022

Secretary Janet Yellen Swears In Chief Lynn Malerba as U.S. Treasurer

to watch Secretary Janet Yellen Swear in Chief Lynn Malerba as U.S. Treasurer.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen holds a ceremonial swearing-in for President Biden’s appointee, Chief Lynn Malerba, to serve as the Treasurer of th...

09/07/2022

Whether you work in a small business or large retail store, the cashier toolkit will equip you with tools to quickly and discreetly authenticate . https://go.usa.gov/xSTTn

09/06/2022

is Tuesday November 8. Make sure you’re registered to !

Check your registration status or register as new voter at vote.gov. Keep in mind that voter registration deadlines vary by state and territory.

09/05/2022

On Labor Day, the Bureau of Engraving & Printing joins our fellow citizens in honoring the American worker. The dedication, skill and creativity of our workforce make it BEP’s greatest asset. The relentless service of BEP employees adds to the rich tradition of American-made manufacturing to ensure the continued advancement of our nation. We wish you a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend!

08/26/2022

Happy Women’s Equality Day! Today is the 102nd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to in 1920. Women have faced and continue to face unique struggles and inequity. BEP is proud to celebrate and commemorate the sacrifices made by women’s rights activists in their quest for equal rights. We are proud to carry on the legacy in furthering , , and across the federal government.

08/25/2022

BEP and National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled were proud to attend the Blinded Veterans Association’s 77th National Convention this week in Washington, DC to distribute currency readers to eligible blind and visually impaired veterans.

iBill currency readers and BEP’s two free mobile apps, the and Ideal Currency Identifier, provide a convenient means to identify U.S. currency notes.

Learn more about the U.S. currency reader program on BEP’s website, https://go.usa.gov/xhg8H

08/18/2022

Have you ever wondered why the quill pen is featured so prominently on the $100 bill?

Although the only U.S. currency denomination featuring quill pen imagery is the Series 2009 $100 bill, the significance of the quill pen can be traced back to the country’s founding. In fact, quill pens were the Founding Fathers’ writing tool of choice, and the Declaration of Independence was handwritten with a quill pen!

White goose flight feathers have largely been the primary material choice for making quill pens and Thomas Jefferson even raised white geese at his Monticello estate for continually harvesting feathers to make pens for writing.

Quill pens were used until the mid-19th century in America, when stick pens began to overtake them in popularity. Though quill pens are no longer used in modern-day writing, their historical and cultural importance is not forgotten: The Supreme Court places quill pens on the counsel tables each day the Court sits, a practice that began in the early 1800s and is now ceremonial.

08/12/2022

Happy : Did you know Pocahontas was the first women to appear on United States paper currency? In 1869, she appeared on the front of the $10 note. See if you can spot her!

08/09/2022

Talk with the BEP recruitment team at the DAV and RecruitMilitary free National Virtual Career Fair for Veterans on Tuesday, August 16, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. CST. This fair is intended for job-seeking veterans and their spouses. We’d love to have you join us for this event! We are looking for talented, motivated and unique individuals to join our workforce.

BEP’s mission is to develop and produce United States currency notes, trusted worldwide, and we strive to set the world standard for manufacturing and innovation excellence.

Pre-register for the event here: https://success.recruitmilitary.com/events

08/09/2022

¡Feliz Día Nacional del Dólar! Obtenga más información sobre la textura distintiva de en nuestro podcast, ¿Sabe lo que lleva en la billetera? https://go.usa.gov/xSEg5

08/04/2022

Meet BEP’s police officers and recruitment team at Reliant Hiring Solutions' Northern Virginia Law Enforcement Hiring Expo on Thursday, August 11, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel. The expo is free to attend and is open to current law enforcement professionals and those looking to join the field. Visit USAjobs.gov for current BEP employment opportunities.

08/03/2022

Celebrate National Dollar Day with U.S. Currency Trivia

Celebrate National Dollar Day with U.S. Currency Trivia

08/02/2022

Established in 1991, BEP’s Historical Resource Center (HRC) is a high-security storehouse of objects and documents. There are more than two million artifacts in the collection, including almost every product BEP has made since the 1860s. Currency, engraved portraits and vignettes, miscellaneous products, postage stamps and several other product categories are in the collection. The objects date back to BEP’s early history, such as historic photographs, paper records, scientific equipment and police uniforms.

Nick Velez, the HRC historian, is shown researching and maintaining the collection. The HRC staff conserves, documents, researches these artifacts. In addition, the collection is actively used by designers, engravers and other BEP staff for reference during product development.

Many of the artifacts and documents stored in the HRC are valuable and unique resources that illuminate aspects of American History.

07/27/2022

United States Notes were first authorized by the Legal Tender Act of February 25, 1862? Prior to the act, currency notes in circulation were essentially government IOUs and called Demand Notes because they were payable “on demand” in coin at certain Department of the Treasury facilities.

These notes were originally intended to be a temporary, emergency financing measure for the Treasury. The plan was to print a limited supply of United States Notes to pay for goods and services related to Civil War costs and then have people convert the currency into Treasury bonds. However, United States Notes became popular and continued to circulate. They were also called legal tender notes because the text originally appearing on the back of the note begins: “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” This provision made the currency a valid and legal form of payment on par with gold and silver.

This was a controversial topic at the time, as it made the United States Note a fiat currency, meaning its value was established by law alone and was not based on some other unit of value such as gold or silver. Many people during and after the Civil War believed the creation of a fiat currency to be unconstitutional as the Constitution considered only gold and silver legal tender. The matter was settled in 1871 in the Supreme Court case of Knox v. Lee wherein the court declared that making United States Notes legal tender was constitutional.

07/22/2022

Have you ever come across some damaged U.S. currency and wondered what could be done? BEP may be able to help!

BEP receives more than 22,000 requests for mutilated currency redemption each year, with an estimated value in excess of $35 million. 💵

06/27/2022

the motto “In God We Trust” did not become law for U.S. currency designs until 1955? The first notes issued bearing those words were Series 1957 $1 Silver Certificates and some 1935G $1 Silver Certificates, printed in 1961 on BEP’s new 32-subject rotary presses. 💵

06/27/2022

that although “In God We Trust” is a familiar sight on American money, the appearance of the national motto on U.S. paper currency did not become law until 1955? The first notes bearing those words were Series 1957 $1 Silver Certificates, printed on BEP’s new, high-speed, rotary intaglio presses. Since 1963, those four words have appeared on every U.S. currency design.

06/24/2022

Did you know that the green seal to the right of the portrait on represents the The U.S. Department of the Treasury? Learn more about banknote identifiers here: https://go.usa.gov/xuQRF.

06/22/2022

In a historic moment for the Mohegan Tribe and all of Indian Country, President Joe Biden announced the appointment of Chief Many Hearts, Dr. Lynn Malerba to serve as Treasurer of the United States. Chief Malerba will be the first Native American to serve as Treasurer, and this will be the first time in history a Tribal leader and a Native American woman’s name will be the signature on the country’s currency.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0824

06/21/2022

Treasury Applauds Appointment of Chief Lynn Malerba as Treasurer of the United States

Today, President Joe Biden announced he will appoint Lynn Malerba, Lifetime Chief of the Mohegan Tribe, to serve as Treasurer of the United States. Chief Malerba will be the first Native American to serve as U.S. Treasurer.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury The Mohegan Tribe

Chief Lynn Malerba will become the first Native American to serve as Treasurer of the United States and will lead the newly established Office of Tribal and Native Affairs. WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen’s visit to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South D...

06/20/2022

Last year, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act making June 19th a national holiday. marks the end of slavery in United States and freedom for Black Americans. Racism and discrimination are learned, not something we are born with – so with effort it can be unlearned. BEP believes treating everyone fairly. Fairness, kindness, respect and dignity go a long way.

06/14/2022

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing celebrates and stands in solidarity with the + community. BEP is committed to ensuring a safe workplace where everyone is treated with fairness and respect. Embracing diversity and inclusion makes us all stronger!

06/13/2022

It is U.S. government policy that all designs of remain legal tender regardless of when they were issued. You can read more about this on our FAQ page: https://go.usa.gov/xuQNS.

05/20/2022

In recognition of , BEP reflects on the life and career of Sukeichi Oyama, an influential Japanese engraver who worked at BEP from 1885 to 1890.

Sukeichi Oyama was one of the most important figures in Japanese securities printing. He was born in Kagoshima Prefecture in 1858, and after four years of studying mineralogy in America from 1872-1876, he returned to Japan and began work as a designer and engraver at the Paper Money Office (now the National Printing Bureau) under the tutelage of Italian Edoardo Chiossone, who was the Chief Engraver in Tokyo.

In 1885, Mr. Oyama was sent to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing to learn the American style of engraving. He worked at the BEP until returning to Japan in 1890. However, the American style of engraving was incompatible with the European style being printed in Japan at the time (the thin, delicate lines of shading used in America could not be replicated by the printing equipment, which was used for the bolder, thicker lines of the European style). He returned to America less than a year later and spent a decade engraving securities at the American Bank Note Co. in New York.

When he returned to Japan in 1900, he accepted the senior engraving post at the Printing Bureau. He became the director of the engraving department in 1907 and died shortly thereafter in 1908. He is remembered as one of Japan’s greatest engravers and brought the American style of engraving to Japan after learning it at the BEP.

Fun fact: Almost all portraits on Japanese banknotes issued from 1910 to 1917 were engraved by Mr. Oyama in the American style he learned at the BEP.

05/19/2022

May 17, 1938 in The The Bureau of Engraving and Printing begins operations in a new annex building located on 14th and C Streets, across from the main building.

05/13/2022

BEP is committed to safeguarding the environment and uses electric trams at its Tour and Visitor Center in Fort Worth, Texas, rather than gas-powered vehicles. The trams, which can transport 60 visitors per trip from the parking lot to the visitor center, replaced diesel buses that used almost 2,000 gallons of fuel per year. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles increase energy security, improve fuel economy, lower fuel costs and reduce emissions. Kudos to being environmentally friendly!

05/11/2022

For National we take time to remember those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and to recognize the true dedication of those who continue to serve.

BEP is honored to regularly partner with law enforcement on all levels: local, state, and federal in training K-9 units. This is done through the Uncirculated Currency Shred Program, a service in which BEP, partnering with the United States Secret Service, provides uncirculated shredded currency to law enforcement agencies. The shreds help K-9 units to better hone their currency detection skills. Crucial in uncovering large sums of genuine currency in airports, ports of entry and for general investigative searches, these detection skills are an invaluable resource to law enforcement.

To learn more about BEP’s Uncirculated Currency Shred Program, visit our website: https://go.usa.gov/xu7Xu.

05/06/2022

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing celebrates those who have made BEP the world’s leader in currency manufacturing: Our employees.

“I want to offer my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the exceptional employees of this organization for your unwavering talent, skill, and hard work that continually leads us to excellence and drives BEP to success.” — BEP’s Director, Len R. Olijar

05/04/2022

The Great Seal of the United States is rich in history. Each element of the seal was carefully designed and carries with it a symbolic meaning. Watch our video for a quick overview of the imagery on the seal and what it means.

In an effort to observe its significance to the nation, the obverse of the seal first appeared on the back of the $20 Gold Certificate, Series 1905. It’s use on U.S. currency has since continued and the Great Seal is now universally recognized on the back of the modern $1 bill.

05/04/2022

May 3 = National Teacher Appreciation Day

The dates may vary each year, but the month is the same. While the teacher appreciation week is during the first full week of May, the teacher appreciation day falls on the first Tuesday of the month


The Bureau of Engraving and PrintingThe Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Today is National Teacher Appreaciation Day. Pictured is the Series 1896 $2 Silver Certificate. One of three notes issued as part of the Education Series, this design by Edwin H. Blashfield was originally intended for the $50 Silver Certificate.

04/29/2022

Did you know that U.S. currency is really more like fabric than paper? U.S. notes are composed of 75% cotton and 25% linen and have a woven texture. Tiny red and blue fibers are also distributed throughout each note. These fibers can absorb and release moisture, very similar to the fibers used in textiles. This fabric-like composition makes U.S. currency very durable which is needed for its use in everyday commerce.

04/22/2022

United States currency notes printed at BEP have long been trusted worldwide. In further acknowledgement of our other earth-wide responsibilities, BEP is continuously seeking new ways to reduce waste and increase energy efficiency. A few of the most significant ways BEP aims to reduce our footprint include reclaiming useable notes from defective currency sheets, installing state-of-the-art high-efficiency lighting systems and greatly improving air-handler performance throughout our facilities.

BEP is proud to say that we are always striving to improve on the environmental front and continue to invest in new technologies to help us on that quest. Happy Earth Day!

04/21/2022

Interesting historical from United States Secret Service

In 1890, the Bureau of Engraving modified the design for the Secret Service badge, making it smaller and easier for the agents to carry in their commission books. Learn more: https://nuvi.me/84vcqp

04/21/2022

Since today is , BEP celebrates all that is five. Just as the beloved hand gesture promotes positivity and togetherness, the big “Purple 5,” located on the back of the $5 bill facilitates the usability of the note by the low vision community.

The numeral 5 is enlarged and printed in high-contrast purple ink. These features help those with visual impairments to distinguish the denomination quickly and easily from others.

For detailed information on how to recognize and use the $5 note security features, please visit https://go.usa.gov/xuK62.