Ever looked at a hundred-dollar bill and wondered why a guy who was never president is staring back at you? It’s a weird quirk of American money. Most people just assume everyone on our cash lived in the White House. Not Ben.
Ben Franklin is on the $100 bill, and honestly, he has been for over a century. Since 1914, to be exact. He’s the "Benjamin" in the slang "it’s all about the Benjamins."
But there’s a lot more to it than just a famous face on a big piece of paper. Franklin wasn’t just a Founding Father; he was basically the original influencer of American finance. He printed colonial money. He obsessed over how to stop people from faking it. He even wrote about the philosophy of "a penny saved is a penny earned."
So, it makes sense he’s on the most valuable note we actually use.
Why Franklin Ended Up on the $100 Bill
You’ve probably noticed that George Washington is on the $1, Lincoln is on the $5, and Hamilton—another non-president—is on the $10. But Franklin is the king of the "C-note."
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The U.S. Treasury decided to put him there because he represented the "American Dream" before that was even a phrase. He wasn't a career politician or a general. He was a scientist, an inventor, and a diplomat. Putting him on the highest denomination was a way to honor intellect and civic service over just raw political power.
Interestingly, before 1914, the $100 bill looked totally different. In the late 1800s, you might have seen Admiral David Farragut or even James Monroe on it. But when the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 kicked in, they standardized things. Ben won the spot. He hasn't moved since.
Is He Really the Only Non-President?
Kinda. If you look at the bills we use every day, it’s just him and Alexander Hamilton (the $10). Every other face—Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Jackson, Grant—belonged to a U.S. President.
The Science of the "New" $100 Bill
If you pull a $100 bill out of your wallet today, it doesn't look like the ones from the 90s. It’s blue. It’s flashy. It’s got a giant 3D ribbon running down the middle.
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The government redesigned the note in 2013 to make it a nightmare for counterfeiters. Because the $100 bill is the most frequently faked note outside of the United States, they had to get high-tech.
- The 3D Security Ribbon: That blue strip isn't printed on the paper. It’s woven into it. If you tilt the bill, you’ll see little bells and "100"s moving. They move side-to-side if you tilt it up and down. It’s wild to look at.
- The Bell in the Inkwell: There’s a copper-colored inkwell next to Ben. Inside it is a green bell. When you move the bill, the bell changes color from copper to green, making it look like it’s appearing and disappearing.
- The Watermark: If you hold it up to the light, a faint image of Ben appears in the white space on the right.
- Microprinting: You’ll need a magnifying glass for this. There’s tiny text on Ben’s jacket collar that says "The United States of America."
Fun Facts About the Benjamin
Most people don't know that the $100 bill is actually the most common banknote in circulation now. For a long time, the $1 bill held that title. But as of the last few years, there are actually more Benjamins floating around the world than singles.
A lot of that is because people overseas use the $100 bill as a "store of value." If your local currency is unstable, you hide Ben Franklins under your mattress.
Also, the $100 bill is the largest denomination still being printed. We used to have $500, $1,000, and even $100,000 bills (which featured Woodrow Wilson), but the government stopped printing those in 1945. They officially retired them in 1969 because nobody was using them except for, well, mobsters and people doing shady stuff.
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Why is the $100 Bill Blue?
The blue tint isn't just for fashion. It’s part of the security. Using multiple colors and complex backgrounds makes it much harder for someone with a high-end printer to make a convincing fake. The specific blue "100" on the back is also huge to help people with visual impairments tell what bill they’re holding.
How to Tell if Your $100 Bill is Real
Don't just trust the color. If you’re worried about a fake, do the "Feel and Tilt" test.
- Feel the paper: Genuine U.S. currency isn't actually paper. It’s a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. It should feel slightly rough, especially on Ben’s shoulder where the "raised printing" is.
- Look for the thread: There’s a vertical thread to the left of the portrait. It says "USA" and "100" and glows pink under a UV light.
- Check the "100" in the corner: The large "100" on the bottom right of the front should change from copper to green when you tilt it.
Actionable Tips for Your Cash
If you're handling a lot of cash, especially for a Facebook Marketplace sale or a side gig, keep these things in mind:
- Update your tech: If you run a business, old counterfeit pens (the ones that turn black) don't always work on modern "bleached" bills where people print $100 on $1 paper. Use a UV light to check the security thread instead.
- Check the serial numbers: If someone hands you a stack of hundreds and the serial numbers are all the same, you’re being scammed.
- Bank it: If you find an old-style $100 bill (the ones with the small head), it’s still legal tender! You can spend it anywhere, but some cashiers might be suspicious because they haven't seen one in a decade. Just take it to the bank and they'll swap it for a new blue one.
Ben Franklin has been the face of big money for over a century, and with the latest tech upgrades, he isn't going anywhere. He’s the most recognizable American icon in the world, largely because he’s tucked into wallets from New York to Tokyo.
If you want to keep your cash safe, start by checking that 3D ribbon next time you get paid. It's the easiest way to know you've got a real Benjamin in your hand.