In celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Bureau of Engraving (BEP) is now selling its latest annual Lucky Money product.
Featuring an uncirculated $1 Federal Reserve note with a serial number beginning with "8888," the bureau’s "Year of the Dog 2018" money product launched today at 8:00 a.m. ET for $5.95.
"The Lucky Money product, Year of the Dog 2018, is exquisitely designed with decorative Chinese symbolism and is packaged in a symbolic, red folder with embossed, gold foil," the BEP describes.
The dog is one of 12 zodiac signs associated with the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The Year of the Dog represents good fortune and prosperity, signifying success in the New Year.
Pricing, Ordering and Limits
In addition to the individual product pricing of $5.95, the BEP has a bulk pricing option with 50 to 999 notes costing $4.50 each and 1,000 or more notes priced at $3.95 each. However, there is a household ordering limit of 250 notes imposed through the first week of release. The limit will be waived on Nov. 22, 2017.
The "Year of the Dog 2018" is the fifth issue from BEP’s second generation of the Lucky Money Lunar Calendar product line. This year, the BEP will offer up to 108,888 compared to last year’s "Year of the Rooster 2017" release which was restricted to 88,888 and sold out.
Place orders from the Lucky Money Collection section of the BEP’s website at:
http://www.moneyfactorystore.gov/luckymoneycollection.aspx.
BEP money products are also available by telephone (1-800-456-3408), by fax (1-888-891-7585), International fax (202-874-1788), at the Washington, DC and Fort Worth, Texas Visitor Center Gift Shops; and by mail order at:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Mail Order Sales, 515M
14th and C Streets SW
Washington, DC 20228
The BEP ships free and does not charge tax.
About the BEP
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s main mission is to develop and produce United States currency notes. The agency prints billions of Federal Reserve Notes each year for delivery to the Federal Reserve System. These notes are produced at facilities in Washington, DC, and Fort Worth, TX.
Does anyone have the feeling this is a bit embarrassing? Seems to be about on the level of the endless commemorative stamps and coins small countries produce for topical collectors, and which never see use in their own countries. Granted the U.S. is no stranger to such money making schemes, but this just looks cheap.