You’ve probably held one today, or at least wished you had a stack of them in your wallet. The Benjamin C Note Franklin is more than just currency. It’s a cultural icon. When people talk about "Benjamins," they aren't talking about the guy who flew a kite in a thunderstorm; they are talking about the high-stakes world of the United States $100 bill.
It’s weird when you think about it.
Franklin was never a president. Yet, he sits on the most coveted piece of paper in the global economy. Why him? Why not Alexander Hamilton—the guy who actually built the financial system—or a more "modern" hero? The answer is a mix of history, anti-counterfeiting tech, and a very deliberate choice by the Treasury Department back in the early 20th century.
The Birth of the C Note
The term "C Note" comes from the Roman numeral for 100, which is "C." Simple enough. But the marriage of Benjamin Franklin and the $100 bill didn't happen until 1914. Before that, the faces on the hundred varied wildly. We had Abraham Lincoln (who eventually moved to the five and the penny), James Monroe, and even Thomas Benton.
When the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 overhauled how we handle money, the government decided to standardize things. They wanted faces that were instantly recognizable but also carried a weight of "founding father" gravitas.
Franklin was the perfect candidate.
He was the ultimate American polymath. He was a printer, which is a bit of an inside joke for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. He also signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He basically represents the "American Dream" before the term even existed. Honestly, he was the first international American celebrity. Putting him on the highest denomination in general circulation was a nod to his role as a diplomat who secured the French funding that actually won the Revolutionary War.
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Why the $100 Bill Looks So Different Now
If you compare a Benjamin C Note Franklin from 1990 to one minted in 2026, the difference is staggering. The "Big Head" design change in 1996 was just the beginning.
The most recent overhaul—the Series 2004A design that actually hit streets years later—turned the bill into a high-tech masterpiece. It isn't just paper. It’s a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. If you’ve ever accidentally washed a hundred-dollar bill, you know it survives. That’s because it’s not wood-pulp paper; it’s fabric.
The blue 3D Security Ribbon is the real star of the show.
Have you ever really looked at it? It’s woven into the paper, not printed on it. When you tilt the bill, the bells inside the ribbon change to 100s. It’s a feat of micro-optics that uses nearly a million micro-lenses for every single note. It is incredibly hard to fake.
Then there’s the Bell in the Inkwell.
This is one of those "hidden in plain sight" features. On the front of the note, there’s a copper-colored inkwell. Inside it is a green bell. When you shift the angle, the bell disappears and reappears. This color-shifting ink is expensive and proprietary. Most "super-notes" (high-end counterfeits often attributed to state actors) struggle to get the metallic transition just right.
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The Global Power of the Benjamin
Most people think the $100 bill is for Americans. It isn't.
Roughly 70% of all $100 bills circulate outside the United States.
In countries with volatile currencies or unstable governments, the Benjamin C Note Franklin is the ultimate hedge. It is the world’s "reserve" cash. It’s portable wealth. Because of this, the U.S. government is very careful about changing it. If they changed the face or the color too drastically, it could spark a panic in international markets where people keep their life savings in literal stacks of Benjamins under floorboards.
The $100 bill is currently the most printed note in the U.S.
For a long time, the $1 bill held that title. But around 2017, the $100 bill overtook it. This is a bit of a paradox. We live in an era of Apple Pay, Venmo, and crypto, yet the demand for physical $100 bills is higher than it has ever been. Economists like Kenneth Rogoff have argued for years that we should actually abolish the $100 bill to curb tax evasion and illegal activities, but the Treasury shows no signs of budging. It’s too valuable as a global asset.
How to Spot a Fake (Without a UV Light)
You don't need to be a Secret Service agent to tell if a Benjamin C Note Franklin is real. You just need to use your hands.
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- Feel the Texture: The printing process uses "intaglio," which leaves a raised texture. If you run your fingernail across Franklin’s shoulder, it should feel rough. If it’s smooth, it’s probably a fake.
- The Watermark: Hold it up to a light. You should see a faint image of Ben Franklin in the white space to the right of the portrait. It should be visible from both sides.
- The Security Thread: There’s a vertical thread embedded in the paper that glows pink under ultraviolet light. Even without a UV light, you can see it if you hold the bill up to a window. It says "USA 100" in tiny print.
- Microprinting: Look at the collar of Franklin's jacket. There is tiny text that says "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." You usually need a magnifying glass to see it clearly, but on a real bill, the letters are sharp, not blurry.
The Future of the C Note
Will we ever see a different face on the hundred? Probably not anytime soon.
While Harriet Tubman is slated for the $20 bill (eventually), Franklin is firmly entrenched on the $100. He is synonymous with the value of the note. In the world of finance, trust is everything. Changing the face of the most powerful bill in the world is a risk the government isn't willing to take right now.
The Benjamin C Note Franklin remains the gold standard of physical currency. It is a piece of art, a marvel of engineering, and a symbol of American economic reach. Whether it's sitting in a bank vault in Zurich or a cash register in Des Moines, the Benjamin is the universal language of value.
Practical Steps for Handling High-Value Currency
If you deal with cash regularly, especially $100 bills, you should adopt a few habits to protect yourself from fraud.
First, never rely solely on those counterfeit detector pens. They only react to the starch in wood-based paper. Sophisticated counterfeiters "bleach" $5 or $1 bills and print $100 designs on them. The pen will say the paper is real (because it is), but the bill is fake.
Instead, always check the 3D blue ribbon and the color-shifting ink. These are almost impossible to replicate on a bleached bill. Second, if you receive a suspicious note, do not return it to the passer. Observe their description and contact local police or the Secret Service. It is illegal to knowingly pass a counterfeit bill, even if you received it by mistake.
Finally, for long-term storage of cash, remember that while the $100 bill is durable, it is still organic material. Keep it in a cool, dry place. Humidity can lead to mold, which—while it won't invalidate the currency—can make it a nightmare to exchange at a standard bank. If you have damaged "mutilated" currency, you have to send it directly to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for redemption.