Make Every Dollar Count
By Carly Blustein, 12th grade, March 15, 2006

It's true that "Money makes the world go 'round," but could it also be true that you can make your money go 'round the world, as well as keep track of its travels? Thanks to a currency tracking project conceived by Hank Eskin, who may be no more than just a database architect and a cash-curious genius, both are now possible. Eskin founded a site called www.wheresgeorge.com, the Great American Dollar Bill Locator. It's the place to go if you've ever wondered where your paper money has been or will go after you spend it.

Of course, the registered bills are only a mere fraction of about 20 billion bills in circulation. To spread the word, Eskin and followers have stamped a message encouraging future recipients to check the website. Most people, however, do not even give money a second glance when exchanging it; or they are skeptical about the site's intentions, which are fun-based. Finally, there's something on the Internet that's not desperate to sell anything.

The process is very easy. The record starts when someone enters the serial number of a bill at www.wheresgeorge.com and marks the bill with the website address. According to the site, about 3.5 percent of them will be logged again by someone else as they change hands. If you register on the site (which is free), you can keep track of the bills entered. An e-mail can even be sent to you to notify you if your bill has been recorded at a new location. (One user saw her $1 bill go from New Jersey to Ireland.)

This has been an addicting hobby for millions of "Georgers" across the nation since www.wheresgeorge.com first became popular in 1999. As of January 22, 2006, George says 76,236,530 bills had been entered, totaling $429,124,978. The bill with the most "hits" has been registered thirteen times.

The bill does not have to be officially stamped to gain recognition on the site. You can start George's journey simply by entering the series, serial number and your zip code. Then write or stamp a message on the bill to attract that its future owners. Luckily, this is not considered defamation to federal currency, which is a crime. Federal law defines "defacing" as altering a bill so much that it cannot be used, which would include cutting or ripping the paper.

Interested yet? Some Georgers offer tips on the best ways to maximize a bill's journey. First, making the message visible is important. Whether stamping the sides or scrawling the URL around the borders, try to ensure that the message is clear and concise. For example, neatly write (or create a stamp saying), "Track this bill's journey. Please enter the serial number at www.wheresgeorge.com."

To increase your chances of getting a hit, spend your money in locations with high bill turnaround where others are likely to get it as change. Fast-food joints, toll booths, gas stations, and grocery stores are among the most highly recommended places by Georgers to spend the cash.