TIDBITS® HAS FACTS ABOUT MONEY
by Kathy Wolfe
This week, Tidbits digs deep into its pockets to draw out these facts on money!
• There are several words that designate the notion of money. Because the first and oldest form of money was cattle, sheep, and camels, each head of livestock was called a “caput,” which is Latin for “head.” Someone with lots of livestock had an abundance of “caput,” which evolved into “capital.” Because the Romans used salt as a form of currency, the word “salary” developed from “sal,” which translates to “salt” in Latin. In ancient Rome, coins were produced in the temple of Juno Moneta. Our words “money” and “mint” take their name from this goddess of women and marriage. The Portuguese called their coins “caixa,” pronounced “cash-a,” where we derive our word “cash.” The word “cent” has its origins in the Latin, “centum,” translating “hundredth part.”
• In addition to livestock, the ancients used cocoa beans, grain, animal skins, feathers, tobacco, bird claws, and bear teeth as forms of currency.
• About 37 million banknotes are printed every day, about half of these being $1 bills. turn the page for more!
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MONEY
(continued):
• Paper money is printed by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing at two locations, Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, Texas. These two facilities combined use an extraordinary 9.7 tons of ink every day. The ink’s ingredients are top secret as a measure to prevent counterfeiting. Despite their name, the bills aren’t paper at all, but rather 25% linen and 75% cotton, since paper would fall apart easily. Red and blue synthetic fibers of different lengths are randomly scattered in the bills to make counterfeiting more difficult. The “paper” for the bills has been produced by a Massachusetts company, Crane Currency, for more than 145 years. It’s illegal for anyone besides the Bureau to possess this paper.
• The engravers who produce the images on paper currency are trained for nearly 15 years in order to gain the precision necessary for creating the detailed lines, dots, and dashes, and the ability to illustrate and cut the image into the plate backwards.
• Why do we call paper currency “greenbacks”? Prior to the Civil War, America’s official currency was gold and silver coins. Privately-owned banks issued their own paper banknotes, redeemable only at their facility. If a bank failed, the money was worthless. As a result of the war, the United States was suffering extreme financial strain, and Congress approved printing paper money to pay for the war efforts. “Demand Notes” were printed with green ink on the back to distinguish them from the private issues. The green ink also made the bills nearly impossible to counterfeit. The term “greenback” was used to set the government-issued money apart.
• The size of paper currency changed in 1929. Prior to that year, bills measured 7.38 x 3.13 inches (18.7 x 7.95 cm) but were reduced in size to the current 6.14 x 2.61 inches (15.6 x 6.6 cm).
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MONEY (continued):
• The first time the words “In God We Trust” appeared on currency was on the 1957 $1 Silver Certificates. Federal Reserve notes followed in 1963.
• The $10,000 bill was the largest ever in circulation. The last printing of this denomination was in 1945. Although a $100,000 bill was printed, it was never in circulation, and was only used for official government work within the Department of the Treasury. The bills currently in production are $1, $2, $10, $20, $50, and $100.
• America’s first mint was established in 1792 in Philadelphia, then the nation’s capital, on the site of an abandoned whiskey distillery. The mint produced its first coins the following March. Today, in its fourth location, the Philadelphia mint, now the largest mint in the world, has the ability to produce upwards of 1.8 million coins per hour, 32 million coins a day, 13.5 billion coins every year. The facility also produces military and government medals and awards.
• From 1793 to 1837, pennies were made from pure copper. That changed to 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, which remained until 1857. Zinc content was increased when copper was needed for various war efforts. Tin was removed in 1962, making the content 95% copper and 5% zinc, in place until 1982, when the penny became a copperplated zinc coin, with just 2.5% copper and 97.5% zinc. Since the U.S. Mint began producing pennies, more than 300 billion pennies have been minted. It costs 2.41 cents to make a penny.
• Although today’s U.S. Secret Service is tasked with protecting the President, when it was first created in 1865, its purpose was to fight counterfeiting, which was a significant problem during the Civil War. Between one -third and one-half of all U.S. paper currency was counterfeit.
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MONEY (continued):
• Why are there ridges on the edge of quarters and dimes? Decades ago, when coins were created from precious metals, the ridges were instituted to prevent people from scraping off the edges and selling the valuable metal. A quarter has 119 grooves around its edge, while a dime has 118.
• The life expectancy of a $1 bill is about 18 months. A $5 bill lasts two years, a $10 bill three years, and a $20 bill four years. The $50 and $100 bills usually last nine years. Worn bills are shredded and recycled. The shingles on your roof quite possibly contain shredded currency as do the fireplace logs you use to start a fire. About 95% of the bills printed each day are to replace worn bills already in circulation.
• It is a federal law that no living person can appear on U.S. currency. The law has been in place since 1866, when Congress stated that it was improper and unpatriotic for the likeness of living people to be placed on money. If a President is to be considered for inclusion on currency, he/she must be dead for at least two years.
• A little over half the total gold held by the U.S. Government is stored in Fort Knox, Kentucky at the U.S. Bullion Depository. Fort Knox itself is an army post located next door to the depository. This fortified vault building was built in 1936 and has a torch and drill resistant door that is 21 inches (53 cm) thick, and weighs 28 tons. The door is set on a 100-hour time lock, which can only be opened by members of the staff who dial separate combinations. The depository is home to about 147 million ounces (4,580 tons) of gold bullion. Fort Knox and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York hold 7.5% of all gold ever refined. The New York Fed holds 7,000 tons of gold, about 507,000 gold bars.
Monster Marshmallow Kabobs: A Spooky Treat on a Stick!
What's better than a bunch of mischievous monsters? Monsters made of marshmallows on a stick, of course! Because, let's face it, everything is more fun when it's on a stick!
These Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are a festive and frightfully fun Halloween treat the whole family can create together. All you need are marshmallows and a few inexpensive decorating supplies to craft your very own marshmallow monster mash.
Here's what you'll need: Marshmallows (regular or jumbo for extra spookiness)
Bamboo skewers, lollipop sticks or straws (for little goblins, opt for straws or lollipop sticks for safety)
Assorted decorating supplies: gelatin powder, colored sugars, candy melts, candy eyeballs, edible markers and melted chocolate
Monster mash time:
1. Line cookie sheets with wax paper to keep things tidy.
2. Gather small bowls and fill them with your spooky decorating materials.
3. Now, let's create your creepy creatures!
Decorating tricks & tips:
Gelatin Powder Magic: Dip marshmallows in water, blot with a paper towel and roll in gelatin powder for a burst of color and flavor. Orange makes perfect pumpkins, while lime makes fun green monsters. Bonus tip: orange gelatin marshmallows + dark chocolate = delicious!
DIY Colored Sugars: Don't have pre-
colored sugar? No problem! Toss white sugar into a jar or bag, add food coloring (start with 6 drops and add more as needed) and shake it up until the sugar is vibrantly hued. Roll marshmallows in your homemade sugar for a colorful sugary coating.
Candy Melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave (30-second increments, stirring in between) and dip marshmallows for a smooth, glossy coating. Pro tip: A teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil makes the candy coating easier to work with. Once coated, let them harden on wax paper.
Here's how we created our spooky squad:
Frankenstein's Monster: Coat marshmallow with green candy melts. Press mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles on top while the coating is tacky for "hair." Add candy eyeballs, then use a toothpick dipped in melted chocolate to draw stitches, eyebrows and a ghoulish grin.
Pumpkin Faces: Dip marshmallows in orange gelatin powder, then use a toothpick dipped in chocolate to draw jack-o'lantern faces. Add green candies on top for stems.
Mummies: Dip marshmallows in white sugar, then drizzle with white candy melts for "bandages." Attach candy eyes using melted chocolate.
Ghosts: Coat marshmallows with white candy melts, letting the excess pool at the bottom to form a ghostly shape. Once hardened, use a toothpick and chocolate to create spooky faces.
Googly Monsters: Roll marshmallows in green sugar, then attach three candy eyes and draw silly monster faces with melted chocolate.
Bloodshot Eyeballs: Use red food coloring or an edible marker to draw bloodshot squiggles on marshmallows.
Top with a candy eyeball for extra spook factor.
Bonus tips for a smooth (and safe) sticking experience:
Butter your bamboo skewers before impaling sticky marshmallows it makes a world of difference! A little goes a long way; I used just a 1/4 teaspoon to coat a whole bunch of skewers.
For younger kids, swap bamboo skewers for lollipop sticks or straws. If using straws, snip the ends at an angle to make inserting them easier.
Avoid choking hazards for toddlers by serving decorated marshmallows on a festive plate instead of kabobs. And keep an eye on those sugar eyeballs!
Whether you're hosting a Halloween bash or just adding a little spooky fun to snack time, these Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are sure to be a hit. Get creative, make memories and enjoy every sweet bite! Happy haunting! ***
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the pennypinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
These Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are the perfect Halloween treat.
THE $1 BILL
This week, Tidbits checks out the facts on the U.S. currency with the oldest design, the $1 bill.
• George Washington’s likeness on the dollar bill is taken from a 1796 portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart. Although his picture first appeared on the dollar bill, he was not the first person to be featured on the currency. America’s first paper legal tender was issued during the administration of Abraham Lincoln in 1862. At the time, the Secretary of the Treasury was Salmon P. Chase, who had the responsibility of designing the notes. A man of high political ambitions, Chase put his own face on the currency, perhaps in an attempt to increase the public’s recognition of him. Chase had been a U.S. Senator and governor of Ohio before his treasury assignment, and went on to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court. Washington’s portrait first appeared in 1869, centered on the bill, with a small vignette of Christopher Columbus.
• Only one woman’s likeness has ever appeared on U.S. currency. George Washington’s wife Martha was on the front of the $1 silver certificate in 1886 and 1891, and on the back of the note in 1896 along with her husband. Martha had never voted or held an elected office and had died in 1802, but was highly esteemed at this time in American history. Today, an 1886 $1 bill with her likeness on the front can be worth over $700. The 1896 bill in excellent condition is worth upwards of $2,000.
• Make a stack of $1 bills a mile high and you’d have $14.5 million. If you had one million $1 bills, it would weight 2040.8 lbs. (925 kg). Contrast this with $1 million in $100 bills, which would weight just 20.4 lbs. (9.07 kg). The number of $1 bills in circulation on any given day ranges between 7.5 billion and 9 billion..
(Continued page #7)
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Why is my cat scratching so much?
DEAR PAW'S COR-
NER: I noticed that my long-haired cat, Charlie, is scratching many times per day. He also is shedding more than usual mostly undercoat, rather than hair. What's going on? I can't see any evidence of fleas on his coat or skin. Dan in Colorado Springs
DEAR DAN: Fleas are often the first thing we think of when a cat starts scratching incessantly, but other conditions could be causing skin irritation. And it may be hard to see lesions or hot spots, especially in longhaired cats. Charlie's undercoat is coming out because he's really scratching those spots.
The best thing to do is take Charlie to the veterinarian. Some itching issues have an external cause and can be eased pretty quickly. But some chronic conditions and diseases have itching as one symptom, and only your vet can diagnose these.
Make sure to tell the veterinarian where exactly Charlie is scratching the most. The vet, with an assistant holding Charlie still, will check these areas more closely for broken skin, lesions, rash and evidence of fleas. They'll also take skin scrapings and fur samples to see if mites are to blame or if there's a bacterial or yeast infection. Blood samples should be taken to test for underlying medical conditions and/or specific allergies. They may send you home with specimen kits to collect urine and poop and bring them in for analysis, too.
The vet will advise you on whether to use a prescription or over-the-counter medication to ease Charlie's itching. When the tests come back (some may be same-day, others may need to go to a lab), they'll know the best treatment path to take. Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
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THE $1 BILL (continued):
• Take a look at the current $1 bill and you’ll see several interesting designs that are tied to the number 13, referring to America’s original 13 colonies. The pyramid on the back of the bill has 13 steps. The eagle has 13 stars above it and there are 13 horizontal stripes on the top of shield underneath the eagle, as well as 13 vertical stripes below it. The olive branch in one of the eagle’s talons contains 13 leaves and berries, while the other holds 13 arrows. On the bill’s front side, on the Department of Treasury seal, there are 13 stars above the key.
• Atop the pyramid on the back of the $1 bill is the “all-seeing eye,” the symbol of divine guidance and providence, the watchful eye of God over humanity. The symbol dates back to ancient Egypt, and also had an association with freemasonry. The triangle in which it sits symbolizes the threefold nature of God and the Trinity. Above it, the Latin phrase “Annuit Coeptis” is featured, which translates “He has favored our undertaking.” On the base of the pyramid is the Roman numeral MDCCLXVII, which denotes 1776, the year the United States declared independence from Great Britain. The Latin phrase below “Novus Ordo Seclorum” means “a new order of the ages,” referring to the beginning of the “American Era.” Above the eagle’s head the words “e pluribus unum” appear, from the Latin for “one for many,” a reference to many inhabitants from many areas uniting as one nation despite their differences.
* Medication labels can fade, so when you get yours, put a piece of clear tape over the instructions. This way, you'll always be able to read the instructions.
* "During the holidays (the height of baking season for me), I keep a large plastic saltshaker filled with flour and a bit of dry rice. The rice helps the flour to shake out without getting clumped up, and I use it to dust cake pans, rolling pins, kneading boards, etc." W.F. in Canada
And to keep them bouncy, store them in your freezer (as long as your mom says it's OK)." via e-mail
* Keep the fog off your glasses by cleaning them with shaving cream. It will prevent mist-ups when you come in from the cold.
* Save your citrus peels and dry them. You can use them for kindling in your fire. They contain flammable oils, and they smell pretty good, too.
Are your final arrangements paid for? Do you know the time & money it will take to handle your estate? Are your beneficiary designations up to date? What will happen to your house and vehicle titles?
* "One of the household cleaners I prefer comes in a spray bottle, and it's on the expensive side. I make sure to get all of the liquid out by adding some regular glass marbles to the bottle. It displaces the liquid up, ensuring it finds the bottom of the sprayer's suction tube." T.H. in Mississippi
* "Stack pucks in the holes of a cardboard soda six-pack carrier. Tell your coach.
Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
