Also, did you know that the $100 is one of the most counterfeited US bills worldwide? It is too precious not to be protected! Considering such high value of these bills, the US government has equipped them with many security features over time. Features like color-shifting inks and 3D security ribbons are standard in keeping counterfeiters away.
The US government has been minting 100 dollar bills since 1862. However, the Federal Version, which is considered the most relevant and official version, started circulating in 1914.
Since 1914, the United States $100 bills feature Benjamin Franklin, one of the most popular founding fathers of the country. This portrait, created by the French painter Joseph Duplessis, appears on the bill's obverse side. The reverse side of most of these bills features the Independence Hall.
The presence of Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bills makes people call them "Benjamins," Franklins," or "Bens."
The minting of the $100 bills can be divided into four series:
Here is a table that summarizes all the 100 dollar bills minted since 1914:
| Currency and Series | Featured Portrait | Back Vignette |
|---|---|---|
| 1914 - 1990 (Federal Reserve Notes) 1929 (The size of the note is reduced to 6.14 x 2.61 inches) |
Benjamin Franklin | Figures representing Labor, Plenty, America, Peace, and Commerce on the back Independence Hall |
| Issued 1990 - 1996 | Benjamin Franklin | Independence Hall |
| Issued 1996 - 2013 | Benjamin Franklin | Independence Hall |
| Issued 2013 - Present | Benjamin Franklin | Independence Hall |
You can also refer to this video by the Rob Some Knowledge YouTube Channel to learn more about the $100 bills:
The first $100 Federal Reserve note was issued in 1914. Benjamin Franklin features on the obverse side of these bills. On the reverse, you can see figures representing Commerce, Peace, Plenty, Labor, and America.
You can also see a black seal to the left of Benjamin Franklin's portrait with the Federal Reserve Bank's name. To the portrait's right is a seal that represents the US Department of the Treasury. These $100 bills carry raised printing to attain a unique texture. They are minted using a paper that is 3/4 cotton and 1/4 linen.
The obverse side of these notes also carries two unique serial numbers to ensure security.
It is important to note that there was a minor update in this series in 1929. This is when the $100 bill's size was cut down to 6.14 x 2.61 inches from 7.375 x 3.125 inches. Also, the reverse design was changed to feature the Independence Hall.
These $100 bills carry all the features of the bills printed before 1990. They were minted using paper containing 3/4 cotton, 1/4 linen, and red and blue security fibers.
Security features are the key highlights of this series. When you hold one of these notes against light, you can see a vertically embedded thread to the left of Benjamin Franklin's portrait. If you look closely, you can see "USA" and "100" embedded in this thread in an alternating pattern. Moreover, the thread will turn pink when exposed to ultraviolet light.
The US government had also used microprinting to make these $100 bills more secure. Looking very closely (or through a magnifying glass) will reveal the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" printed on the outer frame of Benjamin Franklin's portrait.
The $100 bills got increasingly more advanced and secure with time. Along with the previously installed security features like the security thread and microprinting, these bills carry a unique watermark. Holding one of these $100 bills against light will show you a faint watermark of Benjamin Franklin's portrait. This mark appears on the blank space to the right of the portrait printed on the note.
When you tilt these notes, you can see the number 100 on the bottom right corner of the obverse side turn from green to black. This provides an additional security layer to these bills.
The $100 bills minted from 2013 onward and are still in production are more secure than ever. From security threads and watermarks to microprinting and color-shifting inks, they are equipped with all the security features present in their predecessors.
Additionally, these $100 bills carry 3D security ribbons. When you focus on the blue ribbon on a note while turning it back and forth, the bells featured on it turn into 100s. They will also move in the direction you tilt the note. The inkwell to the right of Benjamin Franklin's portrait contains a bell that changes its color from copper to green upon tilting the note.
To the right of the President's portrait, you can see the quill used by America's founding fathers to sign the Declaration of Independence along with the phrases from the document.
Did you know that all US currency notes feature a US President except two, one of them being the $100 bill? The other denomination that does not feature a US President is the $10 bill. This note showcases the portrait of Alexander Hamilton, another popular founding father of America.
The 100 dollar bill has always been a unique and special currency in the US. Instead of a US President, it carries the portrait of Benjamin Franklin. If you are wondering who decides the portrait going on the US currency bills, it is the Secretary of the US Treasury Department. Prominent figures with historical significance and contribution to the nation are chosen to grace the currency notes.
The next time you pull a $100 bill out of your pocket, you are likely to know more about it than a common citizen!
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