CashSum

About the US Dollar

American paper money traces back to the Revolutionary War, when the young United States printed currency to help fund the fight for independence, though those early notes quickly lost most of their value. The dollar bills used today, called Federal Reserve Notes, have been issued since 1914 and became the only type of US currency still in circulation after 1971, when the country stopped tying the dollar's value to gold entirely.

Seven denominations circulate today: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Larger bills once existed, including $500, $1,000, and even a $10,000 note, but they were discontinued in 1969 as electronic banking reduced the need to move large sums in cash. Each denomination carries the portrait of a notable historical figure, George Washington on the $1, Abraham Lincoln on the $5, and so on, a tradition that has held since the early 20th century.

One detail many people never notice: US paper currency isn't actually paper in the usual sense. It's woven from a blend of cotton and linen fibers, which is why a dollar bill can survive a spin in the washing machine far better than an ordinary sheet of paper. That same durability is part of why coins and notes still matter for everyday cash handling, and why a quick counter like this one comes in handy at the register or the end of a shift.