31 U.S. Code § 5114 - Engraving and printing currency and security documents (2024)

[1]  See References in Text note below.

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

5114(a)

31:177.

Aug. 24, 1912, ch. 355, § 1(4th par. under heading “Engraving and Printing”), 37 Stat. 430.

Jan. 3, 1923, ch. 22(2d par. under heading “Bureau of Engraving and Printing”), 42 Stat. 1099.

31:415.

Mar. 3, 1877, ch. 105(provisos in par. under heading “Bureau of Engraving and Printing”), 19 Stat. 353.

31:416.

R.S. § 3577.

5114(b)

31:324a.

July 11, 1955, ch. 303, 69 Stat. 290.

31:413.

R.S. § 3576.

31:414.

Mar. 2, 1889, ch. 411, § 1(5th proviso under heading “Engraving and Printing”), 25 Stat. 945.

5114(c)

31:418.

July 1, 1916, ch. 209, § 1(2d par. on p. 277), 39 Stat. 277; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, § 2(19), 65 Stat. 707.

31:418a.

Aug. 11, 1951, ch. 301, § 101(proviso under heading “Bureau of Engraving and Printing”), 65 Stat. 184.

31:419.

Apr. 4, 1924, ch. 84(1st par. on p. 69), 43 Stat. 69.

In subsection (a), the words “The Secretary of the Treasury shall engrave and print” are substituted for “The work of engraving and printing . . . shall be performed at the Treasury Department” in 31:415 because of the source provisions restated in section 321(c) of the revised title. The words “United States currency and security documents of the United States Government and currency and bonds of the United States territories and possessions” are substituted for “the backs and tints of all United States bonds, the backs and tints of all United States paper money, and the backs and tints of bonds and paper money issued by any of the insular possessions of the United States” in 31:177 to eliminate unnecessary words and for clarity and consistency in the revised title. The words “other security documents and checks” are substituted for “checks” because only currency and bonds must be printed from intaglio plates. The text of 31:177(1st proviso) is omitted as unnecessary because of the authority of the Secretary to engrave and print restated in the subsection and the source provisions restated in section 303 of the revised title. The text of 31:177(last proviso) is omitted as executed. The text of the first and 2d provisos in the 4th paragraph under the heading “Engraving and Printing” in section 1 of the Act of August 24, 1912 (ch. 355, 37 Stat. 430), is omitted as superseded by 31:177(1st proviso). The words after the semicolon in the 2d paragraph under the heading “Bureau of Engraving and Printing” of the Act of January 3, 1923 (ch. 22, 42 Stat. 1099), are omitted as executed. The words “if the Secretary decides the engraving and printing can be carried out . . . as outside the Department” are substituted for “provided it can be done there” in 31:415 for clarity. The words “The Secretary of the Treasury may purchase and provide all the machinery and materials” in 31:416 are omitted as being superseded by section 5142 of the revised title. The words “and employ such persons and appoint such officers as are necessary for the purpose of section 415 of this title” are omitted as unnecessary because of 5:3101. The text of section 3577(words before the semicolon) of the Revised Statutes is omitted as superseded by 31:415.

In subsection (b), the words “United States currency has the inscription” are substituted for “the dies shall bear . . . the inscription” in 31:324a for clarity. The words “At such time as new dies for the printing of currency are adopted” are omitted as executed. The words “and thereafter this inscription shall appear on all United States currency and coins” are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement of the source provisions in this subsection and section 5112(d) of the revised title. The words “in connection with the current program of the Treasury Department to increase the capacity of presses utilized by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing” in the Act of July 11, 1955 (ch. 303, 69 Stat. 290), are omitted as unnecessary. The words “Only . . . of a deceased individual” are substituted for “No . . . while the original of such portrait is living” in 31:413 for clarity. The words “United States currency and obligations” are substituted for “bonds, securities, notes, fractional or postal currency of the United States” for consistency in the revised title. The words “shall be placed upon any of the plates for bonds, securities, notes, and silver certificates of the United States” in 31:414 are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement.

In subsection (c), before clause (1), the words “subject to applicable regulations under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended” in 31:418 are omitted as unnecessary. The words “On and after August 11, 1951” in 31:418a are omitted as executed. The words “received after advertisem*nt” are omitted as unnecessary because of 41:252. The words “the Secretary decides” are added for clarity. In clause (1), the words “as may be necessary” in 31:419 are omitted as surplus. In clause (2), the word “pay” is substituted for “compensation” for consistency in the revised subsection and with other titles of the United States Code.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Title III of the Act of March 3, 1933, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is title III of act Mar. 3, 1933, ch. 212, 47 Stat. 1520, known as the Buy American Act, which was classified generally to sections 10a, 10b, and 10c of former Title 41, Public Contracts, and was substantially repealed and restated in chapter 83 (§ 8301 et seq.) of Title 41, Public Contracts, by Pub. L. 111–350, §§ 3, 7(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3677, 3855. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1933 Act note set out under section 101 of Title 41 and Tables. For disposition of sections of former Title 41, see Disposition Table preceding section 101 of Title 41.

Amendments

2011—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–74 struck out “for a period of not more than 4 years” after “make a contract” in introductory provisions.

2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–458 inserted subsec. heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. heading, and added pars. (2) and (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Prohibition on Use of Funds for Manufacture of Distinctive Paper for Currency and Securities by Foreign Owned Corporations or Outside United States; Exception

Pub. L. 100–440, title VI, § 617(a), Sept. 22, 1988, 102 Stat. 1755, provided that:

“None of the funds made available by this or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year may be used to make a contract for the manufacture of distinctive paper for United States currency and securities pursuant to section 5114 of title 31, United States Code, with any corporation or other entity owned or controlled by persons not citizens of the United States, or for the manufacture of such distinctive paper outside of the United States or its possessions. This subsection shall not apply if the Secretary of the Treasury determines that no domestic manufacturer of distinctive paper for United States currency or securities exists with which to make a contract and if the Secretary of the Treasury publishes in the Federal Register a written finding stating the basis for the determination.”

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation act:

Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(m) [title VI, § 622(a)], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–390, 1329–428.

31 U.S. Code § 5114 -  Engraving and printing currency and security documents (2024)

FAQs

31 U.S. Code § 5114 - Engraving and printing currency and security documents? ›

The Secretary of the Treasury shall engrave and print United States currency and bonds of the United States Government and currency and bonds of United States territories and possessions from intaglio plates on plate printing presses the Secretary selects.

What is the law on printing money? ›

The U.S. federal government has the exclusive authority to print or coin United States currency. Currency produced anywhere other than the two U.S. Mints operated by the Department of the Treasury, along with any valid currency that has been fraudulently altered, is considered counterfeit.

What kind of security does the Bureau of Engraving and Printing have? ›

Anyone found in violation of Bureau policies as written or explained by the tour guides, will be escorted off the premises by a federal police officer. All visitors to the Tour and Visitor Center are subject to security screening. Visitors are screened by a magnetometer.

What does the Bureau of Engraving and Printing do for people like you and me as a free public service? ›

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing redeems partially destroyed or badly damaged currency as a free public service. The Office of Currency Standards uses experts to examine mutilated currency and approve the issuance of a Treasury check for the value of the currency determined to be redeemable.

Does the Bureau of Engraving and Printing print money? ›

The BEP has exclusively designed, engraved and printed all United States paper money since 1862. However, Confederate States Notes were not produced by BEP and are not obligations of the United States government.

Is it illegal to print money in the US? ›

It's Illegal to Reproduce U.S. Currency

Under Title 18, Section 471 of the United States Code, it's illegal to reproduce U.S. paper currency in any way, shape or form without permission from the federal government. This includes scanning money and printing it from a regular old inkjet printer.

Who has the authority to print money? ›

U.S currency is produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and U.S. coins are produced by the U.S. Mint. Both organizations are bureaus of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

What's my paper money worth? ›

Most circulated Federal Reserve Notes from more modern series are worth no more than face value. Some of the early series notes (1928 and 1934) do carry a small premium, although for circulated notes this premium is small, usually 10% to 30%.

Can you see money being printed? ›

Located in the heart of the Nation's Capital, the BEP's Tour and Visitor Center is a great place to learn all about U.S. paper currency. See millions of dollars being printed as you walk along the gallery overlooking the production floor!

Can you cash a million dollar bill? ›

No, there is no official million-dollar bill in circulation, nor has one ever been commissioned by the Federal Reserve. While some novelty items or fake bills may feature a picture of a million-dollar bill, they hold no value and cannot be used as legal tender.

How to tell where money was printed? ›

On $1 and $2 bills, the Reserve Bank information is located in the symbol to the left of the portrait. On all other bills ($5, $10, $20, $50 and $100) the Reserve Bank information is displayed in the letter-number code. In this example, B2 stands for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Second District.

How many times can a dollar bill be folded? ›

A bill can be folded forward and back 4,000 times before it reaches the end of its lifespan.

What paper is money printed on? ›

Federal Reserve notes are a blend of 25 percent linen and 75 percent cotton. Currency paper has tiny red and blue synthetic fibers of various lengths evenly distributed throughout the paper. It would take 4,000 double folds, forwards and backwards, to tear a banknote.

Can you go into the Bureau of Engraving and Printing? ›

Admission is always free. Tours are approximately 45 minutes in length. Tours are limited to 40 visitors per tour. Each adult can request up to 4 tour tickets.

What happens at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing? ›

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing's mission is to develop and produce United States currency notes, trusted worldwide. BEP's vision is to set the world standard for banknotes and document security through excellence in manufacturing and innovation.

What is the only U.S. state that prints currency? ›

Since 1862, BEP been entrusted with the mission of manufacturing the nation's currency. All U.S. currency is printed at our facility in Washington, D.C. and at our facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

Does the government have the right to print money? ›

Money is obviously a vital part of an economy because it allows trade to occur more efficiently. Governments have a great power that no one else in the economy has—the ability to print money. Thus, the government can acquire more goods by printing more money, a process known as seigniorage.

Can the government legally print money? ›

Printing money is the job of the Federal Reserve, but only figuratively speaking. When the Fed decides to stimulate the economy by pouring more money into the system, it electronically transfers additional credits to the deposits of its member banks.

Why is it illegal to print money? ›

The Forbidden Temptation: Printing Money

Governments and financial institutions meticulously guard their monetary systems, and any attempt to manipulate them is met with severe consequences. Money, in its physical form, is sacrosanct, and the penalty for creating counterfeit bills is steep.

Can we just keep printing money? ›

The bottom line. Printing more money is a non-starter because it'd break our economy. “It would take care of the debt but at a price that's far too high to pay,” Snaith says.

References

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