Legal Definitions - Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a specialized agency operating within the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Its primary responsibility is to design, engrave, and print all United States paper currency. Beyond banknotes, the BEP also produces a variety of other secure government documents, including postage stamps for the U.S. Postal Service, Treasury securities like bonds and notes, and other official certificates that require high levels of precision and security.

• Imagine a situation where the U.S. government decides to introduce a completely new design for the $100 bill, incorporating advanced anti-counterfeiting features such as a 3D security ribbon and color-shifting ink. The entire process, from the initial artistic renderings and the intricate engraving of the plates to the high-volume printing and quality control of millions of these new banknotes, would be meticulously managed and executed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. They ensure the integrity and security of the nation's currency before it enters circulation.

• Consider a scenario where a local bank discovers a batch of seemingly authentic, but slightly off-color, $5 bills during a routine deposit. To determine if these bills are genuine or counterfeit, law enforcement would likely send them to experts for analysis. These experts would compare the bills' paper, ink, and printing characteristics against the known standards and production methods exclusively used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, confirming whether they originated from the official government source or were illegally produced.

• Suppose the U.S. Postal Service plans to release a special series of collectible stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of a national park. While the Postal Service would approve the artwork and themes, the actual physical production of these high-quality, adhesive stamps—including the precise color matching, perforation, and packaging—would be entrusted to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. This demonstrates the BEP's role in producing secure and official government documents beyond just currency.