The Office of Currency Standards, located in the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, uses experts to examine the mutilated currency and will okay the writing of a Treasury check for the value of the currency determined to be redeemable.

     Mutilated currency is money that is less than half the original note, or in such bad condition that its value is questionable and special examination is needed to determine the value of the paper money.

     Currency or paper money can become "mutilated" in several ways. The most common causes are fire, water, chemicals, explosives; animal, insect or rodent damage; and deterioration by burying.

     Mutilated U. S. money can be replaced at face value (using the numbers printed on the paper) if more than half of the note is identifiable, and the evidence relating to what happened tells the authorities the missing parts of the bill have been totally destroyed.

     What is not mutilated currency? Paper bills can be badly soiled, defaced, disintegrated, limp, torn and worn, but if more than half of the original note is left and does not require special examination to determine its value, the paper money does not qualify as mutilated.

     Mutilated currency can be mailed or delivered to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C., with a letter stating the estimated value of the currency and an explanation of how the currency became mutilated. Each delivery is carefully examined by an experienced currency examiner.

     Special care needs to be taken when the mutilated currency is packaged to be sent to the Bureau. The bills should be left in the same condition they were in when they were found.

Did You Know?

Every year the Department of the Treasury redeems over $30 million dollars of mutilated money!