A really nice history lesson from within the BEP and a very good look at several amazing and pristine specimen notes of currency from the 1860s onward to the Federal Reserve era. Take notice of the fractional notes, postage currency, demand notes, various national banknotes, coin silver notes, silver and gold certs, 100k gold certs, etc. all with zero-only-SNs and no seals, or those with no SNs printed. This video takes you inside the vaults of the BEP's Historical Resource Center. Check it out: C-SPAN3 visited the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Historical Resource Center for this video on the history of U.S. currency production. From 11/30/2010. History of U.S. Currency -- Run time is 29:43. [CSPAN3 Program ID 297234-1] Link found on CoinUpdate.com [1/11/2011]
I spent some time there in 2008 for a research project. Dr. Noll and the staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. There is a wall outside their office that has a montage of BEP produced items. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed.
Very interesting video, and some good questions were asked. Mr.Franklin Noll (BEP) did a great job answering the questions in lieu of his dry nature. Thanks Chris for providing the link.
They actually got to film in the vault -- that is so cool! Too bad it isn't until the tail end and I wish they had shown some of the printing plates. But still.
It's been just over a year since I posted this thread, but I wanted to give it a bump since we have a lot of newer members among the Paper Money forum who may be interested in learning a little more about the history of the B.E.P. Check out the C-SPAN link in the first post, there is a nice video.
The man in this B.E.P. History video, Dr. Franklin Noll, has a brief article published in Financial History magazine Issue #100 [Spring/Summer 2011] from the Museum of American Finance called, "Money as Industrial Waste." It's an interesting read. Here is a scanned version found on Google Docs, which allows downloadable PDF files.
Thanks for bringing this thread back up. It's a nice easy watch, with lots of cool notes to look at. I do cringe when they show the close-up shots of those very expensive notes and they're all held with the little corner holders that undoubtedly will leave a mark if the notes are ever pulled out of them. Dave
Thanks for the bump-up Chris. I would encourage other members to do the same with significant threads. Letting new members see older threads benefits everyone by offering a chance to add new info.
Treasury Building Restoration: Parts 1 & 2 In keeping with the theme of this thread, here are two more links to CSPANvideo. Tour restored public spaces of the Treasury building at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC. You can catch glimpses of massive framed currency displays in the suites and conferences rooms, full of BEP vignettes, notes showing the range of accomplishments and skills of the B.E.P. There are also many historical images interspersed showing building and building operations of the Treasury Building in past eras: Treasury Building Restoration: Part One "Richard Cote, curator of the Department of the Treasury, talked about the history of the building and a long-term restoration project. He gave a behind-the-scenes tour of restored spaces including the Cash Room, the Salmon Chase Suite, and the President Andrew Johnson Suite, which he used following President Lincoln's assassination. This is the first half of a two-part program." [Run time: 30:49] Treasury Building Restoration: Part Two "Richard Cote, curator of the Department of the Treasury, talked about the history of the United States Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., which was constructed between 1836 and 1869 and is located beside the White House at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue. A long-term restoration project was begun in 1986. He gave a behind-the-scenes tour of some restored spaces including a suite of rooms that has served as the office of Treasury secretaries since 1910, portraits of Treasury secretaries, the ornate West Dome, and the gold gilding that had once been painted over and forgotten. This is the second half of a two-part program." [Run time: 29:42] From C-SPANVIDErg [2/11/2011]
