$100 Note

    2013 $100 Bill Front
    2013 $100 Bill Front
    2013 $100 Bill Back
    Close up of security thread in 2013 $100 bill.

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Close up of 3D security ribbon in 2013 $100 bill.

    3-D Security Ribbon

    Tilt the note back and forth while focusing on the blue ribbon. You will see the bells change to 100s as they move. When you tilt the note back and forth, the bells and 100s move side to side. If you tilt it side to side, they move up and down. The ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on it.

    Close up of holographic ink displaying a bell in an inkwell on the 2013 $100 bill.

    Bell in the Inkwell

    Tilt the note to see the color-shifting bell in the copper inkwell change from copper to green, an effect which makes the bell seem to appear and disappear within the inkwell.

    Close up of watermark of Benjamin Franklin's face on the 2013 $100 bill.

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space to the right of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    A close up of the two-tone ink on the 2013 $100 bill.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front of the note shift from copper to green.

    Close up of security thread in 2013 $100 bill.

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Close up of 3D security ribbon in 2013 $100 bill.

    3-D Security Ribbon

    Tilt the note back and forth while focusing on the blue ribbon. You will see the bells change to 100s as they move. When you tilt the note back and forth, the bells and 100s move side to side. If you tilt it side to side, they move up and down. The ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on it.

    Close up of holographic ink displaying a bell in an inkwell on the 2013 $100 bill.

    Bell in the Inkwell

    Tilt the note to see the color-shifting bell in the copper inkwell change from copper to green, an effect which makes the bell seem to appear and disappear within the inkwell.

    Close up of watermark of Benjamin Franklin's face on the 2013 $100 bill.

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space to the right of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    A close up of the two-tone ink on the 2013 $100 bill.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front of the note shift from copper to green.

    front
    front
    back
    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Watermark

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space to the right of the portrait.  The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front of the note shift from green to black.

    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Watermark

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space to the right of the portrait.  The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front of the note shift from green to black.

    1990 - 1996
    1990 - 1996
    1990 - 1996
    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Microprinting

    Microprinting

    Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed words THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the outer edge of the portrait’s oval frame.

    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Microprinting

    Microprinting

    Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed words THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the outer edge of the portrait’s oval frame.

    1914 - 1990 front
    1914 - 1990 front
    1914 - 1990 back
    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    A black seal to the left of the portrait bears the name of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank. 

    hundred-dollar-bill-1914

    Raised Printing

    Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    paper

    Paper

    Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers.

    Portrait and Vignette

    Portrait and Vignette

    The $100 note features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the front of the note.  The vignette on the back of the note changed in 1929 to feature Independence Hall.

    Treasury Seal

    Treasury Seal

    A seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  The design of the seal was changed to incorporate an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later. 

    Serial Numbers

    Serial Numbers

    A combination of numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.

    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    A black seal to the left of the portrait bears the name of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank. 

    hundred-dollar-bill-1914

    Raised Printing

    Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    paper

    Paper

    Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers.

    Portrait and Vignette

    Portrait and Vignette

    The $100 note features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the front of the note.  The vignette on the back of the note changed in 1929 to feature Independence Hall.

    Treasury Seal

    Treasury Seal

    A seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  The design of the seal was changed to incorporate an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later. 

    Serial Numbers

    Serial Numbers

    A combination of numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.

    The $100 note features additional security features including a 3-D Security Ribbon and color-shifting Bell in the Inkwell.

    Watermark image of Benjamin Franklin's face, where the ink shifts in color from blue to green to yellow as you move from left to right.

    $100 Note Life Cycle

    Before a Federal Reserve note enters circulation, it must pass through four critical steps: design, order, production, and issuance.

    • 1.67
      Billion Notes
      2018 FY Print Order
    • $1.25
      Trillion
      2017 Value in Circulation
    • 15
      Years
      Estimated Lifespan