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How Did the Crane Family Monopolize Dollar Paper?

It's been a family business for generations, starting in 1979, when Mr. Crane undercut his competitors during the bidding process and got the very first contract from the US treasury.

Transcript

Where Do the Dollar Bills Come From? ·

Planet Money

More from this episode

  1. Who Makes the Paper for Every US Dollar Bill?On Planet Money, David Kestenbaum and Jacob Goldstein visit the mill that makes the paper for every US dollar bill.
  2. What Is an American Dollar Bill Made FromAmerican dollar bill is made out of 75% cotton and 25% linen.
  3. How Many Times Can You Fold a US Dollar Bill Before Breaking ItUS dollar bills undergo a quality control measure by a fold test, when a machine folds and unfolds paper, until the paper breaks.
  4. How Is the US Currency Protect From ForgeryWhile a lot of the design goes into creating subtle hard-to-copy differences, some counterfeit features are quite literally embedded into the paper.
  5. How Do You Spot a Transport of US Dollar BillsIf you ever meet a truck driver with a gun, telling you he's carrying halloween candy, chances are you have just run into the truck transporting US currency…

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