Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/116

112 The last step in making a piece of money is to stamp it with one of the beautiful designs that we know so well, an eagle, a dove, or a figure of liberty. This is done by means of heavy dies, between which the coins are placed and which stamp them on the upper and under sides at the same time.

So Uncle Sam, the wizard, spins our gold and silver.

But gold and silver pieces are very heavy to carry about, and so the Government keeps most of them in the United States Treasury and in the banks. To take their places for our every-day use, he makes bank notes, each one of which is his promise to pay the amount of gold or silver money represented by the face of the bill if we ask for it.

Making paper money is almost as great a task as coining metals. The paper itself is a special kind, made by the Government with very expensive machinery, and having silk threads run through it so that it will not tear. You can see these threads if you look sharply at a fresh one dollar bill. The design to be used on a bill is engraved on a metal plate, one person engraving the picture of Lincoln, or whatever portrait is used, and another person the lettering. There are two sets of these plates, one that is saved, and the