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Locations. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has two locations: one in Washington, D.C., and another in Fort Worth, Texas.

Before money was invented, people bartered for goods and services. It wasn't until about 5,000 years ago that the Mesopotamian people created the shekel, which is considered the first known form of currency. Gold and silver coins date back to around 650 to 600 B.C. when stamped coins were used to pay armies.

Federal Reserve Bank cash offices distribute banknotes to the public through depository institutions, such as commercial banks, credit unions, and savings and loans associations. Federal Reserve Banks are responsible for processing banknotes to ensure that they are genuine and fit for recirculation.

Banks create money by lending excess reserves to consumers and businesses. This, in turn, ultimately adds more to money in circulation as funds are deposited and loaned again. The Fed does not actually print money. This is handled by the Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Printing Money When the Fed decides to stimulate the economy by pouring more money into the system, it electronically transfers additional credits to the deposits of its member banks. The banks lend that money out to consumers and businesses at a profit, putting the money into general circulation.

Economics is based on the idea of supply and demand. If we printed more money, there would be an artificial overabundance of demand ? money ? but the supply of goods would not increase at the same rate. What results is dangerous inflation. Prices would increase to a level where the newfound money would be worthless.

The SDR is not a currency. It is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. As such, SDRs can provide a country with liquidity. A basket of currencies defines the SDR: the US dollar, Euro, Chinese Yuan, Japanese Yen, and the British Pound.