Answer to Question #82502 in Macroeconomics for Brianna Ware

Question

What is the step by step process of making money in the United States?

Answer 1

Offset Printing - During this stage, the background is printed on each side by a huge printer that can print up to 10,000 sheets of money per hour. The sheets then need to dry for three days (72 hours) before moving on to the next stage.

Intaglio Printing - After the sheets are dry, they go to the intaglio printer. Here some of the finer details of the design are added including numerals, portraits, some lettering, and scrollwork. Each side is printed separately. First the detail is added to the green side. Next, the sheet dries for 72 hours, then it goes through another intaglio printer and the details of the portrait side are printed.

Inspection - The sheets then go through an inspection process. Digital computers analyze each sheet in minute detail to make sure that the paper, ink, and printing all meet the precise standards.

Overprinting - If the sheets pass inspection they are sent to the overprinting stage where serial numbers and seals are printed.

Stacking and Cutting - The final stage is the stacking and cutting stage. Here the sheets are stacked and sent to a large cutting machine that slices the sheets into individual bills. Now the bills are considered legal currency.