Overview
The site was established in December 1998 by Hank Eskin, a database consultant in Brookline, Massachusetts. Where's George? refers to George Washington, whose portrait appears on the $1 bill. In addition to the $1 bill, $2-, $5-, $10-, $20-, $50- and $100 denominations can be tracked. The $1 bill is by far the most popular denomination, followed by $20 bills.
To track a bill, a user enters the local ZIP Code, the serial number, and series of any US currency denomination. Users outside the US also can participate using an extensive database of unique codes assigned to non-American/Canadian locations. Once a bill is registered, the site reports the time between sightings, the distance between sightings, and any comments from the finders (called "user notes").
The site does not track bills older than series 1963.
Where's George? is supported by advertising, sales of memorabilia, and by users who pay a fee for extra features. Users who pay a $7/month fee are entered into the "Friends of Where's George?" program, which allows these users to access the website free of advertisements; access certain features that others cannot, and refresh reports on the user's entered bills. Eskin states that the "Friends of Where's George?" program will always be optional and payment to use the site will always be at the individual's prerogative.
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