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BETA BILLS

Beta Bill #8 (Teal).jpg

#508

A consecutive series of 50 $2 bills minted in 2013, when the Federal Reserve continued a policy of Quantitative Easing (QE) begun in 2009. In 2013, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke announced the reduction of future bond purchases, or "tapering" of QE. Market speculators railed against it, fearing it would slow the economy, in what was called a "taper tantrum." It appeared Bernanke succumbed to the pressure, and the Fed continued to buy. That weakness is reflected in the title. The colors echo images associated with childhood or childishness: a baby's room, candy, or even Monopoly money. Although, ironically, even the game Monopoly contains a limited amount of money. 

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