BEP production history

The BEP’s Production Records During the Korean War: How Military Spending Drove Currency Print Runs to Post-Depression Highs

June 15, 2026 by

The Korean War (1950-1953) triggered an explosive surge in Federal Reserve Note production, pushing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to output levels not seen since World War II mobilization. Understanding these production peaks helps collectors identify high-mintage common notes versus scarcer transitional series from this pivotal era.

The Series 1950B $5 Federal Reserve Note Mule Varieties: How Late-Production Plates Created Transitional Collectibles

June 15, 2026 by

Among the most fascinating transitional issues in mid-century Federal Reserve Note collecting, the Series 1950B $5 mule varieties emerged when aging face plates with wide back plate numbers met new small-number back plates during a pivotal production shift. Understanding how to identify, attribute, and value these overlooked transitional pieces can open up a rewarding specialization within a series most collectors walk right past.