Can you imagine how hard it was to carry around enough coinage to purchase a big-ticket item prior to 1862? The only legal tender backed by the United States up until that time was in the form of coins. In February, 1862, as a way to finance the Civil War, the Legal Tender Act was passed, and the first paper money, the “Greenback,” was issued on March 10, 1862. This site from NOVA explores how the Treasury Department and Secret Service strive to keep our paper money hi-tech enough to thwart counterfeiters. After you’ve reviewed how a 100 dollar bill is made, try your hand at spotting a bogus bill.
courtesy of Knovation
