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>Whereas losses of USD due to things like setting bills on fire or losing them in a lake amount to a miniscule portion of total USD outstanding.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing redeems partially destroyed or badly damaged currency as a free public service.

Every year the U.S. Treasury handles approximately 30,000 claims and redeems mutilated currency valued at over $30 million.

http://www.moneyfactory.gov/uscurrency/damagedcurrency.html



When banks sit on money and refuse to make loans, or people stuff dollars under the mattress, that has a short-term deflationary effect, for as long as the money is locked up.


You need >50% of a bill for them to redeem it, though.




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