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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,424 |
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Valued Member
United States
372 Posts |
I've been in Texas for a school for the past 2 weeks and with some extra time, I just got done with the tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth. It was a seriously impressive tour and I highly recommend it for anyone!
They really go into the details of start to finish on printing the bills however we had a large school group in our tour so the talk was aimed more at 5th graders.
If you haven't been there, there is an elevated, enclosed walkway that you are able to see everything going on. On a side note, there were green curtains blocking off the view of some of the operations because they were apparently printing the new $100's and didn't want anyone to see what they looked like.
I made sure to stop in the gift shop and buy an uncut sheet of 4 bills of the 1's, 2's and 5's. I'm not rich enough to afford any more than that.
Mike
PS: As you can imagine, no cameras were allowed so I can't provide any cool pictures
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Moderator
 United States
187663 Posts |
What a great experience!  So the question I have is, are you smarter than a 5th grader?  Quote:
PS: As you can imagine, no cameras were allowed so I can't provide any cool pictures But you can post some images of those uncut sheets!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Very nice! I toured the BEP in Washington when I was with a high school group in 1991 and that was one of the Top 3 highlights of my DC experience. The other two were a private tour of the J. Edgar Hoover Building(FBI Headquarters) complete with a viewing of the seized weapons collection and a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. They didn't allow cameras at the BEP back then either  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
that is kool I hope to one day do that trip and also one through the mint |
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Valued Member
 United States
372 Posts |
Ask and you shall receive. Here are my new additions to the collection. I am really curious to see what the new $100s are going to look like. Perhaps that's only because they wouldn't let us look. BioKemist- How the heck did you get a private tour? That would be awesome. That would be amazing to see the weapons too! Want to try to arrange me one? LOL Mike Image:  1.jpg96.25 KB Image: 2.jpg85.02 KB Image: 5.jpg89.98 KB |
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Moderator
United States
187663 Posts |
Thanks for the pictures! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
How the heck did you get a private tour? I was on a tour with a group from my high school. We had a travel agency in charge of us(guide included) that specialized in high school student tours. One of the things that this company was able to do was to arrange for tours of the Hoover Building, something that could not normally be done for commercial tours. However, I doubt that this arrangement has survived in a post 9/11 world. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
632 Posts |
My girlfriend and I stopped in and took the tour during a road trip we had together over the summer.
It was a very interesting tour and free too the public. You literally get to see the bills being printed and sorted and stacked right there. There is a two story arrangement of informative displays as well with an informational video in their theater.
I also bought a sheet of uncut two's from there but I bought the 8 bill sheet, not the 4. Cost me about 35 dollars if I remember correctly.
Edited by Elimist
10/29/2008 2:44 pm
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Valued Member
United States
470 Posts |
If you ever come accross a bill in circulation that starts with a 99 in the serial number, you will know that someone got down on their luck and cut up a sheet for food or smokes.
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Valued Member
United States
346 Posts |
Really? Bills beginning with 99 were printed exclusively for keeping as sheets? Wow, I had no idea! I should set those aside (if I ever find any, that is...) Oh, also, I went on this tour back in July, it was really informative. Did you have a Cuban guy as your guide? He was really cool. I asked a lot of questions and showed off my knowledge of silver certificates, star notes, and other rare currency that I've obtained since browsing this site  Edited by TimJing
11/08/2008 5:31 pm
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,424 |
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Posted 10/24/2008 4:54 pm
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