You've probably held a "Benjamin" in your hand and felt that specific, slightly rough texture of the paper. It’s a weirdly satisfying feeling. But honestly, most of us just see the face of a guy with a slightly judgmental smirk and think, "Cool, I'm a hundred bucks richer."
Have you ever actually stopped to ask why he's there? Benjamin Franklin is the only person on our major bills who was never the President of the United States. Alexander Hamilton is the only other non-president on a common bill (the $10), but at least he was the Secretary of the Treasury. Franklin? He was just... everything else.
The bill with Benjamin Franklin isn't just a piece of paper; it’s a high-tech masterpiece of engineering. If you look closely, it tells a story about why the U.S. government trusts a scientist and printer more than almost any politician to represent our most valuable circulating currency.
Why a Non-President Rules the $100
It’s kinda funny when you think about it. We have Washington on the single, Lincoln on the five, and Grant on the fifty. Then you get to the big one—the $100—and it’s a guy who spent his time flying kites in thunderstorms and writing about how to save pennies.
The Treasury Department didn't just pick him out of a hat in 1914. They chose him because Franklin basically is the American identity. He was a polymath. He was the guy who convinced France to help us during the Revolution. Without his diplomatic skills, we might still be drinking tea and paying taxes to the Crown.
Also, Franklin was obsessed with paper money long before the U.S. was even a country. He actually printed colonial currency himself. He even came up with early anti-counterfeiting tricks, like using unique leaf prints because no two leaves are exactly the same. Putting him on the bill with Benjamin Franklin is basically a nod to the original "Money Man."
The Tech Inside Your Wallet
The current $100 note (the one with the "big head" Franklin) is technically the Series 2009/2009A/2013 design. It looks like a normal bill until you start tilting it. That's when things get weird.
The Blue Ribbon That Isn't Printed
Look at that thick blue vertical stripe to the right of Franklin’s portrait. That is the 3-D Security Ribbon. Here is the mind-blowing part: it is not printed on the paper. It is woven into the paper fibers.
If you tilt the bill back and forth, you’ll see little bells change into the number 100. If you move it side to side, they move up and down. It feels like a magic trick, but it’s actually millions of microscopic lenses making those images dance. It’s one of the hardest things for counterfeiters to replicate because you can't just "print" a 3D effect that changes direction.
The Disappearing Bell
Right next to Franklin's shoulder, there’s an inkwell. Inside that inkwell is a bell. If you tilt the bill with Benjamin Franklin, the bell changes from a copper color to a bright green. When it turns green, it "disappears" into the inkwell background.
This uses color-shifting ink, which is incredibly expensive and highly regulated. If you see a $100 bill where the bell stays the same color no matter how you move it, you’re looking at a fake. Period.
Hidden Details You’ve Probably Missed
If you have a magnifying glass, or just really good eyesight, Ben's clothes are hiding secrets.
- The Collar: Look at the lapel of Franklin’s jacket. You’ll see the words "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" printed in tiny, tiny letters.
- The Quill: There is a golden quill on the right side of the bill. If you look along the edges, it says "ONE HUNDRED USA."
- The Watermark: If you hold the bill up to a light, a faint image of Franklin appears in the white space on the right. It’s not just a copy of the main portrait; it’s a separate, distinct image that is visible from both sides.
Most people think the watermark is just printed on the back, but it’s actually created by varying the thickness of the paper pulp during the manufacturing process. It's part of the "soul" of the bill.
The "Feel" of a Real Benjamin
Honestly, the easiest way to tell if a bill with Benjamin Franklin is real is to just touch it. Federal Reserve notes aren't actually made of paper. They are a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why they don't fall apart in the washing machine like a receipt does.
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If you run your fingernail along Franklin’s shoulder, you should feel a distinct ridge. This is "intaglio" printing. The ink is literally piled up on the surface of the note. It gives the bill a rough, raised texture that a standard inkjet or laser printer just can’t do.
Pro Tip: If a $100 bill feels smooth like a page from a magazine, it’s probably a counterfeit. Real money has "teeth."
What Most People Get Wrong About the $100
There’s a common myth that $100 bills are being "phased out" because of digital currency or because they’re used for "illegal stuff."
That’s mostly nonsense. The Federal Reserve says there are more $100 bills in circulation than $1 bills. A huge chunk of them—over 60%—actually live outside the United States. People in countries with unstable currencies use the bill with Benjamin Franklin as a "store of value." It’s the closest thing the world has to a universal gold standard.
Another misconception? That "older" bills without the blue ribbon are worthless. Nope. Every piece of U.S. currency issued since 1861 is still legal tender at its face value. If you find an old small-head Ben from the 1980s in your grandma's attic, it’s still worth $100. However, most banks will pull those from circulation and send them back to be shredded just to keep the "cleaner," higher-security versions in your hands.
How to Protect Yourself from Fakes
You don't need to be a Secret Service agent to verify a Benjamin. Just remember three words: Feel, Tilt, Light.
- Feel: Run your thumb over Ben’s shoulder. It should be scratchy.
- Tilt: Look at the blue ribbon and the bell in the inkwell. Do they move and change color?
- Light: Hold it up. Do you see the watermark and the vertical security thread that glows pink under a UV light?
If you do those three things, you’re ahead of 99% of the population.
Next Steps for Your Wallet
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Next time you get a $100 bill from an ATM or a stranger, take five seconds to do the "Tilt" test on the blue ribbon. It’s the fastest way to ensure your money is actually money. If you’re a business owner, consider buying a small UV light; the security thread on the left side of Franklin’s face will glow a bright pink when hit with ultraviolet light, which is nearly impossible for low-level scammers to fake.
Lastly, take a second to look at the back of the bill. It shows Independence Hall in Philadelphia. There’s a tiny clock on the tower. On the newer notes, the time on that clock is approximately 10:30. It’s just one more layer of detail in the most sophisticated piece of paper in your pocket.