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Show Me the Money!

October 13, 2025
By Nicole Tocco

Dough. Bucks. Bread. No matter what you call it, money has changed a lot over the years. Before the 1860s, gold and silver coins were the only currency produced by the U.S. government. That changed during the Civil War (1861-1865). President Abraham Lincoln needed money to pay the Union troops. But there was a shortage of coins. Enter the dollar bill. 

You might not think much about a dollar when you pull it from your pocket. But our currency is more interesting than you might realize. For instance, did you know that the dollar bill is made of a special blend of cotton and linen? You could fold it back and forth more than 4,000 times before it would rip! Read on for more fascinating facts about our paper currency.

What You Need to Know About Money
Watch a video to learn more about the rich history of money.

Secret Symbols

The first U.S. dollar bill was printed in 1862. The original 13 states were represented several times (and still are). That’s not the only symbol on the dollar. Here’s a look at today’s $1 bill. 

Courtesy of National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History (Chase); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

1. Salmon P. Chase, not George Washington, was on the first $1 bill. Chase was the secretary of the Treasury. That department handles the nation’s money.

2. Some people say a tiny owl is hidden here. What do you think? 

Steve Stock/Alamy Stock Photo

1. This symbol is called the Eye of Providence, or the All-Seeing Eye.

2. 13 levels on the pyramid

3. MDCCLXXVI is 1776 in Roman numerals. That’s the year the U.S. declared independence.

4. This is the Great Seal of the United States. 

5. 13 stars above the bald eagle 

6. 13 stripes on the shield

7. 13 arrows, a symbol of war

8. 13 leaves on the olive branch, a symbol of peace

Real or Fake?

U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing ($5 bill); Shutterstock.com (magnifying glass)

Some people print fake bills and try to pass them off as real cash. This process is called counterfeiting. It’s against the law. U.S. bills have security features to make them harder to counterfeit. These are some ways to tell if your dough is real.


  • Bills $5 and higher have microprinting—tiny words that you need a magnifying glass to see!

Shutterstock.com 

  • Hold any bill $5 or higher up to a light. You should see a hidden design called a watermark. 
  • Ten-dollar bills and higher are printed with color-changing ink. When you tilt the bill, the number in the lower right corner changes from copper to green.

Making Money

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) makes all the paper money in the U.S. The BEP has printing centers in Washington, D.C., and Fort Worth, Texas. They produce hundreds of millions of bills each month, in denominations ranging from $1 to $100.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Paper currency is printed on huge sheets before being cut into single bills.

1. What are two details in the article that support the idea that “money has changed a lot over the years”?

2. What is one fact you were surprised to learn about the $1 bill in the “Secret Symbols” diagram? Why do you find the fact surprising?

3. What is a watermark, according to the article? What is the purpose of a watermark on a bill?

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