Inside the secret machinery that makes American money

This clip shows the industrial steps of coin production at the US Mint, from weighing raw metal and rolling sheets to punching planchets and striking Kennedy half dollars.

Step-by-Step Look at How Coins Are Made

Workers melt and pour molten bullion into solid bars while armed guards and massive vault doors enforce strict federal security.

Melting Gold Bars Inside High-Security Vaults

Artists meticulously engrave designs by hand before high-speed intaglio presses print sheets of currency, which are closely inspected for defects.

The Intricate Art of Printing Paper Money

The Secret Service protects more than just the president

While known for seizing millions in counterfeit cash, Treasury agents in the Secret Service undertake their ultimate duty guarding the president as agents jog alongside the presidential limousine.

The Secret Service's Dual Mandate

When IRS agents hunted illegal moonshiners in the woods

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division of the IRS conducts armed operations deep in the wilderness to break up illicit liquor operations, capturing moonshiners and destroying contraband stills on site.

When the IRS Raided Moonshine Stills

Why customs inspects your luggage for fruit

Customs agents inspect luggage not only for contraband, but to intercept pests hidden in produce that could devastate domestic agriculture.

Why Customs Checks Your Fruit at the Border

How the US government destroys redeemed bonds

The Bureau of the Public Debt serves as the executioner for matured government securities by feeding bundles straight into incinerators.

Incinerating Billions in Government Securities

How mainframe computers revolutionized government checks

As paper check volume exploded, the Treasury shifted from manual typewriters to early IBM mainframes printing thousands of checks per minute.

When Government Checks Went High Tech

Treasury agents used to fight the drug war.

Treasury recruits train in combat tactics and surveillance before executing an undercover operation to take down an illicit narcotics smuggling ring.

When the Treasury Hunted Down Drug Rings

Coast Guard search and rescue in the 1960s.

When a ship sinks at sea, a retro computing operations center mobilizes planes, cutters, and rescue helicopters to pull victims from open water.

1960s High-Tech Sea Rescue in Action

[04:36] Step-by-Step Look at How Coins Are Made
[05:40] Melting Gold Bars Inside High-Security Vaults
[06:52] The Intricate Art of Printing Paper Money
[10:31] The Secret Service's Dual Mandate
[12:28] When the IRS Raided Moonshine Stills
[14:41] Why Customs Checks Your Fruit at the Border
[17:31] Incinerating Billions in Government Securities
[19:54] When Government Checks Went High Tech
[22:46] When the Treasury Hunted Down Drug Rings
[24:30] 1960s High-Tech Sea Rescue in Action

Inside the secret machinery that makes American money

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