Paula had her first panic attack six months ago. She was in her office preparing for an important work presentation when, suddenly, she felt an intense wave of fear. Then the room started spinning and she felt like she was going to throw up.
There is about $1.2 trillion dollars of U.S. currency in circulation. The Federal Reserve Banks distribute new currency for the U.S. Treasury Department, which prints it.
The department also reports that bills of higher denominations last much longer because they do not receive as much handling while in circulation as do the dollar bills. To make the paper money last as long as it does, the government must arrange for special paper and ink that is made by a secret process.