You just pulled a crumpled dollar bill out of your pocket and noticed something weird. Maybe it’s a bright red stamp, or just some scribbled ink in the margin that says "Track this bill at www.wheresgeorge.com." You’re probably wondering if this is some kind of scam or if you're about to get tracked by the government for spending a buck on a Snickers bar.
Honestly? It's just a hobby. A really, really old one.
WheresGeorge.com started way back in 1998, which is basically the Stone Age in internet years. Hank Eskin, a database consultant from Massachusetts, had this quirky idea after seeing a message on a bill. He wondered: where does this money actually go? Since every single US bill has a unique serial number, he realized he could build a database to follow them. Fast forward to 2026, and the site is still kicking, with over 300 million bills entered and a "hit" rate that keeps a massive community of "Georgers" obsessed with their George Scores.
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Why People Use www wheresgeorge com track this bill Every Day
It’s about the "hit." That’s the rush. When you go to www wheresgeorge com track this bill, you enter the serial number and your ZIP code. If someone else has already entered that bill, you see its history—where it started, how many miles it traveled, and how long it took to get to you. If you’re the first one to log it, you’re "starting" the bill’s journey.
Most bills never get a second look. They sit in bank vaults or get shredded by the Fed when they get too ragged. But roughly 11% of bills get a "hit," meaning someone else finds it later and logs it again.
The Gearhead Side of Money
Some people take this very seriously. They don't just enter a bill; they buy custom rubber stamps to make the website URL stand out. They call themselves Georgers. They track "bingos," which is when you get a hit in every single state or every county in a specific state. There are even gatherings where people meet up in person just to trade bills and increase their chances of a cross-country hit. It's basically Pokémon Go but with physical currency and much less exercise.
Physics researchers actually used this data once. A team at Northwestern University realized that the way dollar bills move is a perfect proxy for how humans move. They used Where’s George data to model how infectious diseases might spread across the country. It’s kinda wild that a "silly" hobby ended up being a legitimate tool for massive scientific studies.
Is It Actually Legal to Stamp Your Money?
This is the big question everyone asks the first time they see a stamped bill. You've probably heard someone claim that defacing currency is a federal crime. Well, sort of, but not really in the way you think.
Title 18, Section 333 of the US Code says it's illegal to deface currency if you intend to render the bill "unfit to be re-issued." Georgers want the exact opposite. They want that bill to stay in circulation forever so it can keep getting hits. As long as you aren't trying to change a $1 into a $100 or making the bill unreadable, the Secret Service generally has bigger fish to fry.
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The site itself is pretty strict about "natural circulation." You aren't allowed to trade bills with friends just to get hits. That’s called "cheating" in the Georging world. If the site detects you’re just passing bills back and forth with your brother, those hits get flagged as "alternates" and don't count toward your score.
How to Track Your First Bill Without Messing Up
If you've got a bill in your hand right now, here is exactly how you do it. First, don't forget the Series year. That’s the little four-digit year printed near the Secretary of the Treasury's signature. It’s not the year the bill was printed; it’s the series. If you get that wrong, the system won't recognize the serial number.
- Head to the site. It looks like it hasn't been updated since 2004. That’s part of the charm.
- Find the "Enter a Bill" section.
- Type in the serial number. Be careful with those letters at the beginning and end.
- Enter your ZIP code. This is how the map calculates distance.
- Add a "User Note." Tell people where you got it—maybe a greasy spoon diner in Ohio or a strip club in Vegas. People love reading the notes.
What Happens After You Spend It?
Once you spend it, the waiting game begins. You might get an email in three days saying your bill showed up in Hawaii. Or, more likely, you’ll never hear about it again. The average $1 bill only lasts about 6 years in the wild before it’s replaced.
The Mystery of the "Found" Bill
Sometimes you'll find a bill that has been traveling for a decade. Imagine a single dollar bill that has survived through three presidential elections, a global pandemic, and dozens of wallets, only to end up in your hands. That’s the "wistful" side of the hobby. It reminds you that we’re all connected by these tiny pieces of green paper moving through the economy.
Interestingly, $1 bills have the highest hit rate because they circulate the most. $100 bills are "boring" because they usually just sit in a bank or a safe. If you want to see some action, stick to the singles.
Actionable Steps for New Trackers
- Check your change: Look for stamps or handwriting every time you get cash back.
- Use the "Series" correctly: If the bill says 2017A, make sure you select that "A" or it won't count.
- Write a note: Bills with interesting notes (e.g., "Found in a birthday card!") are more likely to be re-entered by the next person.
- Don't overthink the legality: As long as the serial number and the faces are clear, you're fine.
- Check the "Top 10" lists: The site has some crazy stats on bills that have traveled over 20,000 miles.
To start your own tracking journey, grab the bill in your wallet, find the serial number, and enter the data at the official portal to see if your dollar has a secret history you didn't know about.