Cotton and U.S. Currency

According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, US paper currency is made up of 75% cotton and 25% linen. That is, there are three-fourths of a pound of cotton in each pound of dollar bills. This same source also informs us that there are 490 bills in a pound of currency.

During Fiscal Year 1997, approximately nine and a half billion bills of all denominations were printed in the United States, consuming 30,551 bales of cotton. The total dollar value of these bills was one hundred and forty two billion dollars, or $9698.75 per pound of cotton.

Now THAT is value added.

Denomination	Bills Printed	Cotton Used (lbs)	Cotton Used (bales)	Value of Cotton (Approx. $0.70/lb)	Value of Currency Printed
$1	4,646,400,000	7,111,837	14,816	4,978,286	$4,646,400,000
$2	102,400,000	156,735	327	109,714	$204,800,000
$5	896,000,000	1,371,429	2,857	960,000	$4,480,000,000
$10	998,400,000	1,528,163	3,184	1,069,714	$9,984,000,000
$20	1,881,600,000	2,880,000	6,000	2,016,000	$37,632,000,000
$50	406,400,000	622,041	1,296	435,429	$20,320,000,000
$100	649,600,000	994,286	2,071	696,000	$64,960,000,000
Total	9,580,800,000	14,664,490	30,551	10,265,143	$142,227,200,000

See other items that can be made from a bale of cotton.