Fun Money Facts

Did you know…

• Cattle are probably the oldest of all forms of money. Cattle as money dates back to 9000 B.C. Some cattle were still used as money in parts of Africa in the middle of the 20th century.
• Before the days of paper money, Americans traded animal skins, including deer and elk bucks, for goods and services. Hence the word "buck" to describe money.
• During the Civil War, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was called upon to print paper notes in denominations of 3 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents and 50 cents. The reason for this is that people hoarded coins, which created a drastic shortage. These bills, called greenbacks, were used to pay Civil War soldiers.
• Shopping was fun in 1900. Women could buy a pair of shoes for just $1!
• There is about $823 in circulation for each person in America.
• In 2002, the U.S. Mint produced 14,413,236,610 coins for general circulation.
• A mile of pennies laid out is $844.80. By this standard, America is about $2.5 million wide, coast to coast.
• Coins usually survive in circulation for about 30 years.

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Source: http://www.childrensmuseum.org/special_exhibits/moneyville/pop5.htm