Common Cents

Today's post contains some facts about U.S. currency that I recently read and found interesting. Most people know that our "paper" money isn't really paper but a combination of 75% cotton and 25% linen,in the early days people repaired torn bills with a needle and thread. The $10 bill has the shortest lifespan,around 4 1/2 years,I would have guessed that dubious title belonged to the $1. A handy hint for bills that vending machines won't take,20 seconds in the microwave will fix that problem,of course there has to be a microwave nearby for that tip to be helpful. Benjamin Franklin reportedly designed the first U.S. penny in 1787,instead of "E Pluribus Unum" it read "Mind Your Business".  The familiar bald eagle on our money may be named Peter. From 1830 to 1838 a bird frequented the Philadelphia Mint so often that workers named him Peter the Mint Eagle and supposedly used him as a model for the eagle we see today on our currency. In an effort to reduce pollution 4 tons of cash is turned into mulch on a farm in Delaware every day.