U.S. paper money production slowed a bit in August compared to July but the number of larger bills rose sharply, according to monthly data published atypically late (on Oct. 6) by the agency responsible for printing American currency.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) produced 557.05 million banknotes last month for a combined value of more than $16.1 billion. By comparison, July levels reached 566.4 million notes worth over $13.1 billion.
In percentage breakdowns, August saw 1.7% fewer notes than July while their combined value was 22.2% higher. In other month-over-month comparisons, there were:
- 6.8% more $1s,
- 18.8% fewer $5s,
- 4.5% fewer $20s, and
- 31% more $100s.
The BEP made $50s for the first time since January. Conversely, it did not make $10s for the first time since January. $2s have not been printed since July 2016, and more are not expected for some time. The Federal Reserve noted that their FY 2016 order for $2s was enough to meet demand for "multiple years."
Compared to the same month in 2016, the number of notes fell 22.7% from 720.67 million while their total value was 5.2% higher from $15.3 billion.
BEP FY 2017 Production
The BEP produced 6,224,890,000 notes since the Oct. 1 start of its fiscal year 2017. Aproximately 879,000,000 more had to be printed in September based on the Fed order of 7.1 billion banknotes for FY 2017.
Below are images of the BEP’s latest monthly production report. They show the type of banknotes manufactured at the agency’s two printing facilities.
August 2017 BEP Banknote Production
Facility at Washington, DC
Facility at Fort Worth, TX
The BEP produced 250,000 in $1 star notes. Star notes are replacements for misprinted or damaged notes and for certain serial numbers like 000 000 000. They have serial numbers that end with a star "*" designation, and are also so indicated by quantities in the images above. Money collectors usually find star notes more desirable since they are harder to find.
The following table lists the type, the amount and the total value of banknotes printed by the BEP for the month:
Banknotes by Denomination: Total Printed and Values
August 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 205,050,000 | 205,050,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 83,200,000 | 416,000,000 |
| $10.00 | – | – |
| $20.00 | 134,400,000 | 2,688,000,000 |
| $50.00 | 12,800,000 | 640,000,000 |
| $100.00 | 121,600,000 | 12,160,000,000 |
| Totals | 557,050,000 | 16,109,050,000 |
For comparison, four previous monthly money production tables follow.
July 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 192,000,000 | 192,000,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 102,400,000 | 512,000,000 |
| $10.00 | 38,400,000 | 384,000,000 |
| $20.00 | 140,800,000 | 2,816,000,000 |
| $50.00 | – | – |
| $100.00 | 92,800,000 | 9,280,000,000 |
| Totals | 566,400,000 | 13,184,000,000 |
June 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 172,800,000 | 172,800,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 89,600,000 | 448,000,000 |
| $10.00 | 51,200,000 | 512,000,000 |
| $20.00 | 141,120,000 | 2,822,400,000 |
| $50.00 | – | – |
| $100.00 | 92,800,000 | 9,280,000,000 |
| Totals | 547,520,000 | 13,235,200,000 |
May 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 204,800,000 | 204,800,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 64,000,000 | 320,000,000 |
| $10.00 | 51,200,000 | 512,000,000 |
| $20.00 | 179,520,000 | 3,590,400,000 |
| $50.00 | – | – |
| $100.00 | 135,040,000 | 13,504,000,000 |
| Totals | 634,560,000 | 18,131,200,000 |
April 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 230,400,000 | 230,400,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 70,720,000 | 353,600,000 |
| $10.00 | 38,400,000 | 384,000,000 |
| $20.00 | 166,400,000 | 3,328,000,000 |
| $50.00 | – | – |
| $100.00 | 128,000,000 | 12,800,000,000 |
| Totals | 633,920,000 | 17,096,000,000 |
Federal Reserve data indicates that there was approximately $1.58 trillion in circulation as of Sept. 20, 2017, of which $1.53 trillion was in Federal Reserve notes.
"Recent estimates show that between one-half and two-thirds of the value of U.S. currency in circulation is held abroad," the BEP notes.
As a perspective, the BEP in FY 2016 delivered its 7.6 billion notes at an average cost of 10 cents each. More than 90% of those printed were for replacing those already in, or taken out of circulation.
why no series 2017 yet?
Lee –
Even though we have a new Secretary of the Treasury & a new Treasurer of the U.S., it takes awhile for the new signatures to be engraved & plates made at the BEP for mass production of new FRNs. Plus, they need to use up most of the inventory of “old” series notes before putting new series into circulation. It has been less than 6 months since Mnuchin & Carranza took office.
-NumisdudeTX
Would like to be notified when the final Series 2013 and the first Series 2017 $1,00 Notes are released. Thanks!