<Tr> <Th> Parent agency </Th> <Td> Department of the Treasury </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.MoneyFactory.gov </Td> </Tr> <P> The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is Federal Reserve Notes (paper money) for the Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank . In addition to paper currency, the BEP produces Treasury securities; military commissions and award certificates; invitations and admission cards; and many different types of identification cards, forms, and other special security documents for a variety of government agencies . The BEP does not produce coins; all coinage is produced by the United States Mint . With production facilities in Washington, DC, and Fort Worth, Texas, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the largest producer of government security documents in the United States . </P> <P> The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has its origins in legislation enacted to help fund the Civil War . In July 1861, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to issue paper currency in lieu of coins due to the lack of funds needed to support the conflict . The paper notes were essentially government IOUs and were called Demand Notes because they were payable "on demand" in coin at certain Treasury facilities . At this time the government had no facility for the production of paper money so a private firm produced the Demand Notes in sheets of four . These sheets were then sent to the Treasury Department where dozens of clerks signed the notes and scores of workers cut the sheets and trimmed the notes by hand . The Second Legal Tender Act (July 11, 1862; 12 Stat. 532) authorized the Treasury Secretary to engrave and print notes at the Treasury Department; the design of which incorporates fine - line engraving, intricate geometric lathe work patterns, a Treasury seal, and engraved signatures to aid in counterfeit deterrence . </P>

Where is paper currency made in the us