New 100 Dollar Bill: What Has Changed and How to Use It?

New 100 Dollar Bill: What Has Changed and How to Use It?

Let's be honest: who among us hasn't dreamed of holding a stack of hundred-dollar bills at least once? $100 is not just money, it is a symbol of a certain status and opportunities.

Let's be honest: who among us hasn't dreamed of holding a stack of hundred-dollar bills at least once? $100 is not just money, it is a symbol of a certain status and opportunities. 

  • Personally, we've always wondered how it happened that it was a portrait of Benjamin Franklin 100 dollar bill.  

In particular, if you suddenly stumble upon an unusual coin and want to find out its value, there are now coin value identifier applications that can help. But if we talk specifically about the "hundred", then now there is so much writing about this money on the web, and about how to distinguish a real bill from a fake one. They are especially often looking for information about the fake 100 dollar bill with star.

Bonist's office. He's wearing glasses, with a magnifying glass. There's a notebook in front of him. He's holding a $100 bill in his hands.

Who Is on the $100 Dollar Bill

  • This is a question with an obvious answer, but with a deep meaning.

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most recognizable personalities in the history of the United States. His portrait has become an integral part of American culture and a symbol of financial success. 

By the way, if someone is suddenly wondering who's on the 100 dollar bill, now you know the answer for sure!

  • He is not just a historical figure. He is a symbol of the American dream, the embodiment of diligence, ingenuity, and the desire for knowledge. Franklin was a self-made man. He achieved outstanding success in a wide variety of fields.

  • His role in the American Revolution and the formation of a young state is difficult to overestimate. He was a diplomat, philosopher, scientist, and one of the "founding fathers" of the United States.

  • Franklin was not the president of the United States, but his contribution to the creation of the country and the financial system.

    • This fact is often surprising. When asked who the US 100 dollar bill president was, the answer is always the same - none of the presidents are depicted on it.

  • However, Franklin played a key role in the development of the US financial system. 

    • He actively participated in the creation of the first American currency and also promoted the ideas of financial literacy and thrift. 

Important to Know 

  • The back of the 100 dollar bill depicts Independence Hall– the building in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed. 

    • This is a reminder of the key role of Franklin and other founding fathers in the creation of the American state.

the portrait of Benjamin Franklin
  • Protection against counterfeiting.

    • Modern $100 banknotes have many degrees of protection against counterfeiting, including watermarks, security threads, and color-changing elements. 

    • It is very important to know how to recognize them, so the question of how to tell if a 100 dollar bill is real is always relevant.

The Origin and Evolution

Step 1

The first 100-dollar banknotes appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. 

Then they were produced by different banks, and the design, of course, was different. Imagine the spread! 

But with the creation of the Federal Reserve System (FRS), when the notorious 1913 half dollar was released, everything became more unified.

Step 2

The banknote takes on a familiar face. But already in 1914, a portrait of Benjamin Franklin was placed on a 100-dollar bill for the first time.

Back then, it was a Federal Reserve banknote, and it certainly didn't look the same as it does now.

Step 3

Why 1914? The choice of 1914 was due to the need for standardization of banknotes and the desire to pay tribute to an outstanding figure who made a huge contribution to the formation of the United States. 

Franklin was perfect for the role.

Step 4

Since then, with the exception of minor changes, Franklin has remained the "face" of the $100 bill. 

His portrait has become a symbol of the stability and reliability of the American currency. 

Therefore, if you are wondering what the real 100 dollar bill front and back looks like, then you will always see Franklin on one side.

the picture of 100 dollar

Changes

  1. The design was constantly changing to meet the demands of the time and combat counterfeiting. The design became more complex, and new security features were added.

  2. The most important aspect of the evolution of the $100 bill was to strengthen protection against counterfeiting. Watermarks, protective threads, color-changing ink, and other innovative elements appeared. Now the 100 dollar bill back has many protective elements.

  3. The modern $100 bill is a true work of art that combines cutting–edge technology and deep respect for history.

Rare and Unusual Editions 

In addition to the usual ones in circulation, there is a whole world of rare and unusual specimens that are of great interest to collectors. Let's take a look at this world and find out what treasures can be found there!

100 000 Dollar Bill

the picture of 100 000 dollar bill
  • You heard right, such a banknote really existed! However, do not rush to look for it in your wallet. This banknote, known as the "gold certificate", was issued in 1934 and was intended exclusively for internal transactions between banks of the Federal Reserve System (FRS).

  • The banknote depicts Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States. It was never intended for circulation among the population and was used to transfer large amounts between banks.

  • Now, such banknotes are extremely rare and of exceptional value to collectors. Therefore, it is not surprising that many are now looking for a rare 100 dollar bill image in the hope of seeing this miracle.

  • Important

    • Do not confuse this banknote with other, later issues of 100-dollar banknotes, which were used for settlements between banks and were available to the public.

Fake $100 Dollar Bill

the picture of fake 100 dollar bills
  • Among collectors, "erroneous" banknotes are particularly popular – copies with typos, printing defects, offset patterns, and other deviations from the norm.

  • Counterfeit banknotes also belong to this category, especially those that were issued during historically significant periods or have unique characteristics. For example, a fake $100 dollar bill with an asterisk (*) instead of a letter in the serial number may be of interest to collectors if they were issued by a certain bank or at a certain time.

  • However, it is important to understand that collecting counterfeit banknotes requires special care and knowledge. It is necessary to be able to distinguish real mistakes from modern fakes and evaluate the historical and cultural value of the copy.

$100 Dollar Bill Serial Number Check

  • Each $100 bill has a unique serial number that allows you to track its history, year of issue, and place of printing.

  • There are online services that allow you to check the serial number via NGC of a banknote and get additional information about it. 

  • The information obtained using the serial number can help determine whether a banknote is rare or unusual, as well as verify its authenticity.

  • Tip

    • Pay attention to the letters and numbers preceding the serial number. They may point to the Federal Reserve Bank that issued the note.

screenshot from main page of serial number checker

Gold 100 Dollar Bill

  • These are usually souvenir banknotes covered with a thin layer of gold. They are not an official issue of the Fed and have no real face value.

  • Nevertheless, they can be an interesting and unusual gift for those who are interested in numismatics or just love beautiful things.

  • Important

    • Do not overpay for gold banknotes. Their value is determined mainly by the price of the gold used and the cost of production.

How to Spot a Fake Old 100 Dollar Bill

Counterfeiters have existed at all times, so counterfeit $100 bills appeared long before modern printing technologies.

  1. In order to successfully identify old fakes, it is necessary to know what the real banknotes looked like at one time or another.

  2. Pay attention to the paper, ink, print quality, and the presence of watermarks. Compare a suspicious banknote with an image of a genuine banknote from a reliable source.

  3. 100 dollar bill fake is always a risk, especially when it comes to old bills, so be extremely careful.

Coin ID Scanner

the logo of Coin ID Scanner

And if you want to deal with fake coins, that's also worth its weight in gold in numismatics. You will definitely need this app. It is a coin ID mobile application that is like Shazam. Take a picture of a coin, and it gives you all the information about it.


Super-fast identification

Just take a photo of the coin or download an existing one, and the app gives you the result in seconds. All thanks to artificial intelligence, which analyzes the image.

A complete dossier on the coin

The application will tell you about the country, denomination, rarity, place of minting, metal composition, and even the approximate price of the coin. 

Huge database

The application contains information about more than 150,000 coins! So the chances of finding your coin are very high.

Collector's personal account

You can save images and search results to your "collection" inside the application. It is convenient for keeping records and tracking your collection.

Numismatics news

In the application, you can find the latest news, tips for collectors, information about rare coins, mint marks, and much more.

Consultant with artificial intelligence

If you have any questions about numismatics, you can ask them to the built-in AI consultant. He promises to give accurate answers without mistakes.


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