Money is weird. We touch it every day, shove it into vending machines, and freak out when we lose a twenty, but most people couldn't tell you who is on the fifty or why the heck the one-dollar bill is covered in creepy pyramids. Honestly, if you look closely at all US dollar bills, you’re looking at a massive, complex security project that's been evolving since the 1860s. It’s not just paper; it’s a high-tech blend of linen, cotton, and 3D security ribbons designed to stay one step ahead of some very talented counterfeiters.
You might think paper money is, well, paper. It’s not. It’s actually a 75% cotton and 25% linen blend. That is why your cash doesn't turn into a ball of mush when you accidentally leave it in your jeans through a heavy-duty wash cycle. Try that with a piece of printer paper and see what happens.
The Lineup: What’s Currently in Your Pocket
Right now, the Federal Reserve issues seven denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. That’s it. You aren't going to find a $500 bill at the bank unless you’re looking at a collector's item that hasn't been printed since 1945.
The Single and the Deuce
The one-dollar bill is the dinosaur of the group. It hasn’t had a major design change since 1963. Why? Because it’s rarely counterfeited. It’s just not worth the effort for criminals to spend ten dollars in materials to make a fake one-dollar bill. It features George Washington, obviously, and that famous Great Seal on the back. People get all conspiratorial about the eye over the pyramid, but the Latin "Annuit Coeptis" basically just means "He has favored our undertakings."
Then there’s the two-dollar bill. People think they’re rare or "lucky." They aren't. You can walk into almost any bank branch and ask for a stack of them. They feature Thomas Jefferson and a beautiful engraving of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They’re great for tips, but some younger cashiers might actually think they're fake because they see them so rarely.
The Big Players: Five through Twenty
The five-dollar bill features Abraham Lincoln. If you hold it up to the light, you’ll see a column of three numeral 5s on the right side. It’s a simple security feature, but it works.
🔗 Read more: USD to UZS Rate Today: What Most People Get Wrong
The ten-dollar bill is special because Alexander Hamilton wasn't a president. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury. He actually stayed on the bill even when there was a big push to put a woman on the ten a few years ago; eventually, the Treasury decided to keep Hamilton and plan for Harriet Tubman to eventually take Andrew Jackson's place on the twenty.
Speaking of the twenty, it is the workhorse of the American economy. Most ATMs only spit out twenties. Because of that, it’s one of the most frequently faked bills within the US. It has a color-shifting "20" in the bottom right corner that flips from copper to green when you tilt it.
The High Stakes of All US Dollar Bills
When you get into the fifty and the hundred, things get serious. Ulysses S. Grant is on the fifty. It's a beefy bill. But the king is the Benjamin—the hundred-dollar bill.
Benjamin Franklin is the face of the $100, and this bill is basically a piece of technology. It has a blue 3D Security Ribbon woven into the paper, not printed on it. If you move the bill, the bells inside the ribbon change to 100s. It’s incredibly difficult to replicate. Most of these bills actually live outside the United States. They are the global standard for "under the mattress" savings in countries with unstable currencies.
What about the "Broken" Bills?
Ever had a bill torn in half? If you have more than 50% of the bill, it’s still worth its full value. If you have less than half, you’re usually out of luck unless you can prove the other half was destroyed in a fire or explosion. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a "Mutilated Currency Division" where experts literally use tweezers and microscopes to reconstruct charred remains of cash for frustrated citizens. They process about 30,000 claims a year.
💡 You might also like: PDI Stock Price Today: What Most People Get Wrong About This 14% Yield
Why We Don't Use Large Denominations Anymore
There used to be $500, $1,000, $5,000, and even $10,000 bills. There was even a $100,000 gold certificate used only for transactions between Federal Reserve banks. In 1969, the government officially stopped issuing these. The reason was simple: organized crime.
It’s much harder to carry a million dollars in twenties (it weighs about 100 pounds) than it is to carry a million dollars in ten-thousand-dollar bills (which would fit in a small envelope). By killing the large bills, the government made it a lot harder for drug cartels and money launderers to move their product.
Spotting a Fake: The "Feel" Test
The best way to tell if any of all US dollar bills are real isn't a fancy UV light or a pen. It’s your thumb. The printing process—intaglio printing—leaves a physical texture on the paper. If you run your fingernail over the vest of the portrait, it should feel scratchy and raised. Counterfeiters usually use inkjet or laser printers which are flat. If the bill feels like smooth magazine paper, get rid of it.
Also, look for the security thread. Every bill from the $5 up has a vertical thread that glows a specific color under UV light:
- $5: Blue
- $10: Orange
- $20: Green
- $50: Yellow
- $100: Pink
If the colors don't match, you're holding a "bleached" bill—where someone took a five-dollar bill, washed the ink off, and printed a hundred over it.
📖 Related: Getting a Mortgage on a 300k Home Without Overpaying
Future Proofing Your Cash
The Treasury is currently working on the "NextGen" project. We are going to see a total overhaul of the $5, $10, $20, and $50 over the next decade. The $10 is slated for 2026, and the $20—featuring Harriet Tubman—is expected around 2030. These updates aren't just for aesthetics; they are designed to make it easier for the visually impaired to distinguish between denominations and to stay ahead of digital scanning technology.
Cash is still king for a lot of people. Despite Apple Pay and credit cards, there is about $2.3 trillion worth of Federal Reserve notes in circulation right now. That's a lot of cotton and linen.
How to Handle Your Cash Like an Expert
If you want to make sure you're never scammed and that your money stays "good," there are a few practical habits to get into. These aren't just tips; they're the basic rules of currency literacy in a world where "funny money" is getting more sophisticated.
- Check the Watermark. This is the easiest one. Hold any bill $5 or higher up to a window. You should see a faint image of the person in the portrait in the white space on the right. If the watermark is George Washington but the bill says it's a $20, someone is trying to pull a fast one on you.
- Forget the Pen. Those yellow markers you see at grocery stores? They only detect starch. If a counterfeiter uses high-quality linen paper, the pen will "pass" the bill even if it’s fake. Trust the texture and the security thread instead.
- Know the Microprinting. If you have a magnifying glass, look at the borders of your bills. There is tiny text that says "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" or the denomination. It’s so small that most home printers just turn it into a blurry line.
- Deposit Damaged Cash. Don't try to tape a shredded bill and pass it at a gas station. It’s annoying for the clerk and might be rejected. Take it to a commercial bank. As long as the serial numbers are visible and you have more than half, they’ll swap it for a crisp new one.
The reality of all US dollar bills is that they are symbols of trust. They only have value because we all agree they do. Keeping that trust means making the bills as hard to copy as possible, while keeping them recognizable enough that a kid can use a dollar to buy a pack of gum. Pay attention to the details—there’s a whole lot of history and engineering hiding in your wallet.
Actionable Steps for Currency Management
- Audit your "rainy day" cash: If you keep a stash of cash at home, ensure it consists of modern "big head" bills (post-1996 or 2013 for the $100). Older "small head" bills are still legal tender but often trigger extra scrutiny at stores.
- Verify large bills immediately: When selling something on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, always perform the "fingernail test" on the portrait’s clothing. If it's smooth, refuse the transaction.
- Use your bank for exchanges: If you find yourself with older denominations or heavily worn bills, commercial banks are obligated to exchange "fit" currency. You don't need to be a customer at most branches to exchange a few bills.
- Report suspected fakes: If you end up with a counterfeit, do not try to spend it. That’s a felony. Turn it over to the Secret Service or local police. You won't get your money back, but you'll avoid a potential prison sentence.