Why is the US dollar bill made of cotton?

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 454 bills in a pound of currency. read more

US currency paper is made of 75% cotton fibers and 25% linen. The cotton and especially the linen increase durability and lower chances of counterfeiting. In fact, an idea of the toughness of the bills can be gained from knowing the source of the cotton, which used to be waste cuttings of denim jeans. read more

During Fiscal Year 2009, over six billion bills of all denominations were printed in the United States, consuming 21,476 bales of cotton. The total dollar value of these bills was two hundred and nineteen billion dollars, or $21,290.55 per pound of cotton. read more