You’ve probably got one in your pocket. Or maybe it’s crumpled at the bottom of a bag. We handle every US dollar bill so often that we stop actually looking at them. It’s just green paper, right? Well, technically it isn't even paper—it's a 75% cotton and 25% linen blend. If you accidentally wash your jeans with a twenty in the pocket, that’s why it survives.
Money is weird. It’s a mix of high-stakes security, Freemason conspiracy theories (mostly fake), and genuine historical drama. Most people think they know what’s on their cash, but if I asked you which way Lincoln is facing on the five, or which bill doesn't have a President on it at all, you'd probably have to look.
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The Federal Reserve currently issues seven denominations. That’s the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Each one tells a specific story about how the U.S. wants to be seen by the rest of the world.
The Singles and the "Rare" Deuces
The $1 bill is the workhorse. It hasn’t had a major design overhaul since 1963. Why? Because it’s the most counterfeited bill? Nope. It’s actually because it’s the least worth counterfeiting. The cost of faking a single is almost as much as the bill itself. George Washington stares out from the front, based on Gilbert Stuart’s unfinished 1796 portrait.
On the back, you’ve got the Great Seal. People freak out about the "All-Seeing Eye" above the pyramid. Honestly, it’s just an 18th-century symbol for divine providence, not a secret society invite. The pyramid has 13 steps for the original colonies. If you look closely at the base, you’ll see Roman numerals for 1776.
Then there’s the $2 bill.
People think they’re worth a fortune. They aren't. You can go to almost any bank and ask for a stack of them today. Thomas Jefferson is on the front, and the back features a painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It’s a crowded scene. Because of that, it’s the only bill that doesn't feature a building on the back. Fun fact: because they are rarely used in vending machines or registers, they stay in circulation for a long time. They don't get "worn out" as fast as the $1.
The $5 and $10: The Civil War and the Treasury
Abraham Lincoln owns the $5 bill. He’s been there since 1914. This bill was the first to get the "big head" treatment in the late 90s to stay ahead of digital scanners. If you hold it up to the light, you’ll see a column of three small "5"s on the left and a large "5" in the watermark on the right.
The back shows the Lincoln Memorial. If you have a magnifying glass, you can actually see the names of the states engraved on the top of the building, just like the real thing in D.C.
Now, the $10 is interesting. Alexander Hamilton is the face of the ten, and he’s one of only two non-Presidents on current paper currency. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury, so he earned his spot.
There was a huge push around 2015 to put a woman on the $10 bill. Then a little musical called Hamilton became a global phenomenon. Suddenly, Hamilton was a pop-culture icon, and the Treasury Department decided to keep him and swap Andrew Jackson off the $20 instead. That plan for the $20 is still "in progress," though it's been delayed by various administrations.
The $20: The Most Used Bill in America
If you go to an ATM, you’re getting a $20. It is the king of the American economy. Andrew Jackson is the face of it, which is ironic because Jackson actually hated the idea of paper money and the central banking system. He would probably be furious to know his face is the most dispensed piece of paper in the country.
The $20 is a prime target for counterfeiters. To fight this, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing uses "color-shifting ink." If you tilt a modern $20, the "20" in the bottom right corner changes from copper to green.
Why the $20 is changing
Harriet Tubman is slated to replace Jackson. This isn't just about representation; it’s about security. When the Treasury changes a portrait, they update the entire plate with new microprinting and security threads. The White House on the back will remain, but the portrait will be the first time a woman has appeared on a major Federal Reserve note since Martha Washington appeared on a Silver Certificate in the late 1800s.
The Big Fish: $50 and $100
The $50 features Ulysses S. Grant. It’s often called a "Grant." Most people don’t carry these. High-stakes gamblers and some older folks love them, but many small businesses won't even accept them because they fear fakes.
The $100 is the masterpiece. Benjamin Franklin—the second non-President—is the face here. This bill was completely redesigned in 2013 with a "3D Security Ribbon."
Look at a new $100. That blue strip isn't printed on the paper. It’s woven into the paper. If you move the bill, the little bells in the ribbon change to "100s." It’s incredibly difficult to replicate.
There is a massive amount of $100 bills held outside the United States. In fact, more than half of all $100 bills live overseas. It's the world’s preferred "store of value" for people who don't trust their local currency. If a country's economy collapses, the people look for Benjamins.
The Bills You Can't Have
You might have heard of the $500, $1,000, $5,000, or even the $10,000 bill. They are real. The $100,000 gold certificate also exists, but it was only used for transactions between Federal Reserve banks.
The government stopped printing these high-denomination bills in 1945. Why? Basically, to make life harder for organized crime. It’s a lot harder to smuggle a million dollars in $100 bills than it is in $10,000 bills.
If you find a $500 bill in your grandma’s attic, it is still legal tender. You could spend it at a grocery store for $500 worth of milk, but you shouldn't. Collectors will pay way more than the face value for one of those.
Spotting a Fake Without a Pen
Don't rely on those little yellow markers. Counterfeiters have figured out how to "bleach" a $1 bill and print a $100 on top of it. Since the paper is real, the pen stays yellow.
Here is what you actually do:
- Feel the jacket. Run your fingernail across the portrait’s shoulder. You should feel distinct ridges. This is "intaglio printing." It’s very hard to fake that texture.
- Check the watermark. Hold it to the light. The ghost image should match the person on the bill. If it’s a $100 bill but the watermark is Lincoln, you’ve got a bleached $5.
- Look for the thread. Every bill from the $5 up has a vertical security thread. On the $5, it glows blue under UV light. The $10 glows orange. The $20 glows green.
Money isn't just math. It’s engineering. Every US dollar bill is a tiny, portable fortress of security features designed to keep the global economy from falling apart. Next time you're paying for a coffee, take five seconds to actually look at the ink. It’s more interesting than you think.
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Practical Steps for Handling Currency:
- Check your change: Quickly feel for the "raised ink" texture on the portrait of any bill larger than a $10 to ensure it’s not a photocopy.
- Audit your "rare" finds: If you come across a $2 bill or an older "small head" bill, don't rush to spend it. Check a site like Numista to see if it has collector value based on its serial number or minting year.
- Exchange damaged bills: If you have a bill that is ripped or "mutilated," as long as you have more than 50% of the bill and the serial numbers are legible, any bank will swap it for a crisp new one.