The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 17, April 29, 2007, Article 22

ARTICLE: U.S. BANKNOTE DESIGNER WILLIAM KRAWCZEWICZ, A.K.A. "DOLLAR BILL"

Today The Capital of Annapolis, MD published a great interview with one 
of the BEP's key banknote designers:

"No one makes more money than Bill Krawczewicz.

"But the Severna Park resident won't ever give Bill Gates a run for 
his money because, sadly, the riches aren't his own. 

"Mr. Krawczewicz is a bank note designer, one of only three in the 
country, at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C.

"If you'd like to get a look at his handiwork, just take out your wallet 
and examine the $10s, $20s, and $50s inside. He worked on the recent 
redesign of all three bills.

"He didn't draw the pictures of Hamilton, Jackson and Grant on the 
notes, but he did handle the currency's color and layout, as well as 
the design of the icons of freedom. Some friends call him "Dollar Bill."

"The 40-year-old came to the BEP from the design department of the 
Clinton White House. Prior to that, he worked at the U.S. Mint, a job 
he got shortly after graduating from the University of Maryland.

"Mr. Krawczewicz's professional projects often start with a drawing, 
but he does most of his work on a computer. Some of his handiwork can 
only be seen with the aid of a magnifier, and he can work in increments 
as small as a few microns.

"Mr. Krawczewicz keeps up on the world, money-wise, by collecting foreign 
bills. He likes to see how other countries incorporate design details in 
their bank notes. He doesn't collect coins, though. 'I've always liked 
money, he said with a chuckle. '(But) I see it differently now. I have 
more of an understanding of all the labor that goes into it.'"

"Besides bank notes, he's designed the Maryland quarter, President George 
W. Bush's official medal, a World Cup soccer coin, the James Madison silver 
dollar, and three Olympic coins for the summer games in Atlanta in 1996.

"Some of that joy and fervor is evident when Mr. Krawczewicz discusses 
his work at the BEP. "I just really enjoy my job," he said. "I want the 
notes to look as beautiful as possible. I just put my heart into it and 
I hope the public will feel the same way."

To read the complete article, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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