A long time ago, I heard about a currency tracking project called Where’s George. The idea is pretty simple, really. Someone in posession of United States paper currency enters the serial number of that currency into the site and then spends it. Eventually, someone else who comes in contact with that bill will enter it into the site and add their own note about where they got it or where it’s going. To speed the process up, someone writes “wheresgeorge.com” on it, prompting the next owner to participate.
How does it work?
1. Go to the site and log in. If you don’t have an account, create one.
2. Select the denomination of the bill ($1, $5, $10, etc.)
3. Select the series the bill is in (2003, 2003A, 2006, etc)
4. Enter the serial number like the one above.
5. Enter your zip code if not already filled in.
6. Enter a note. Most people just state where they got the bill and where they might spend it.
7. (optional) Add a note to the bill asking people to participate (see the example below)
8. Spend it somewhere so others can join in.
I get it, but why?
The best place to find your answers about the site is their FAQ, but I can tell you why I not only participate, but decided to write about it. For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard things like “you don’t know where that’s BEEN”. When I was younger, it was an often response to coin money entering my mouth, and usually followed by me choking on said coin money. As an adult, I’ve heard people speculate on where their bills came from. Several times, friends have wondered if their singles were once nestled in a stripper’s G-string. Well, now I’m just a little closer to finding out. These days, I don’t put money in my mouth anymore, but it’s still nice to happen upon a bill that the site tells me has been across the country a couple times.
Your Challenge
Open up your wallet or purse and pull out all the U.S. or Canadian paper money and enter it into the site. The note should say “Entered in contest at JoeTech.com”. Then come back here and post the tracking URL to the bill into the comments below. Do as many as you like. When I return from BlogWorld next Monday, I’ll pick a random winner, who will get the bill pictured above (which started out in Hawaii, by the way) and $20 via PayPal.
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