You’ve probably got one tucked away in a birthday card or maybe just a single, crisp note sitting in the back of your wallet for "emergencies." It’s the C-note. The C-note is basically the king of American currency, and honestly, the Benjamin Franklin $100 bill is doing a lot more heavy lifting for the global economy than most people realize. It is the most printed note in the U.S. Treasury’s arsenal. That’s weird, right? You’d think the $1 or $20 would take the crown since we use them for coffee or gas, but nope. It’s the Benjamins.
There’s a reason for that.
Most of these bills aren't even in the United States. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, about 60% of all U.S. hundred-dollar bills live overseas. They are the world's mattress-stuffer. When a foreign economy goes south or a local currency starts looking like Monopoly money, people scramble for the Benjamin Franklin $100 bill. It’s stable. It’s trusted. It’s basically a portable gold bar that fits in your pocket.
But have you actually looked at one lately? Not just a quick glance to make sure the "100" is there, but a real, squinty-eyed look? The design is actually a technological marvel, which is kind of hilarious when you realize the guy on the front spent his time flying kites in thunderstorms and writing about bifocals.
Why Ben Franklin?
People ask why he’s on the biggest bill when he was never a president. It’s a fair question. Ben was a founding father, sure, but so was Alexander Hamilton (the $10 guy), and he wasn't president either. Franklin was chosen because he was essentially the face of American ingenuity and pragmatism. Plus, by the time the U.S. started standardizing this stuff in the 1920s, Franklin’s face was already synonymous with "save your pennies."
It’s ironic.
The man who said "a penny saved is a penny earned" is now the face of the bill people use to buy designer handbags or pay for plumbing repairs under the table.
There’s also the "look." Franklin has this slight smirk on the $100 bill. It’s not a full-on grin, but it’s definitely there. Since the 1996 redesign, and especially the 2013 "New Color of Money" update, his portrait has been enlarged and moved slightly off-center. This wasn't a fashion choice. It was done to make room for a watermark and to make the bill harder to counterfeit. When the portrait is off-center, it’s much more difficult for a fake-maker to reproduce the subtle gradients of Ben’s neck and coat.
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The 2013 Redesign Changed Everything
If you’re holding a $100 bill printed after 2013, you’re holding a piece of high-tech polymer and ink that costs about 14 cents to produce. That’s a massive markup.
The most striking feature is that 3D Security Ribbon. It’s blue. It’s thick. And if you tilt the bill, you’ll see bells changing into 100s. This isn't printed on the paper. It’s woven into the paper. It’s a feat of engineering that took years to perfect. In fact, the 2013 release was actually delayed for years because the Bureau of Engraving and Printing kept running into "creasing" issues during production. They were literally producing billions of dollars that were unusable because the paper was folding in on itself during the printing of that blue ribbon.
Then you’ve got the Bell in the Inkwell.
This is my favorite part. There is a copper-colored inkwell next to Ben. Inside it, there’s a green bell. When you tilt the bill, the bell shifts from copper to green, making it look like it’s appearing and disappearing. It’s a "color-shifting" trick that requires incredibly expensive ink.
- The Paper: It’s not actually paper. It’s 75% cotton and 25% linen.
- The Threads: There are tiny red and blue security fibers scattered throughout. If you don't see them, your money is fake.
- The Microprinting: If you have a magnifying glass, look at Franklin’s jacket collar. It says "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Look around the watermark space—it says "USA 100."
The Dark Side of the Benjamin
Let’s be real for a second. The Benjamin Franklin $100 bill isn't just popular with collectors and savers. It’s the favorite tool of the underworld. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has famously argued that we should actually stop printing the $100 bill. Why? Because it’s too easy to transport large sums of illicit cash.
Think about it.
A million dollars in $100 bills fits into a single briefcase. If you tried to do that with $20 bills, you’d need five briefcases. You’d look like a cartoon villain trying to get through an airport. By keeping the $100 bill in circulation, the U.S. is essentially providing a high-denomination service for global transactions—both legal and illegal.
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But the "Eliminate the 100" movement hasn't really gained traction. Why? Because the U.S. government makes a killing on "seigniorage." That’s the fancy word for the profit made by issuing currency. If it costs the government 14 cents to make a $100 bill, and they "sell" that bill to a bank for its face value, the government just made $99.86 in profit. When billions of these bills are sitting in safes in Switzerland or under floorboards in Buenos Aires, that’s essentially an interest-free loan to the United States.
How to Spot a Fake Benjamin in 5 Seconds
You don't need a fancy UV light to tell if a Benjamin Franklin $100 bill is real, though it helps (the security thread glows pink under UV). Here is how you do it like a pro.
First, run your fingernail across Ben’s shoulder. You should feel "raised printing." It feels scratchy or rough. Most counterfeiters use flat inkjet or laser printing, which feels smooth. The U.S. uses "intaglio" printing, which involves massive pressure that actually deforms the paper and leaves ink standing up on the surface.
Second, check the watermark. Hold it up to a light. You should see a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space to the right of the portrait. It should look like him, not a weird distorted version of him. On many fakes, the watermark is printed on the surface and looks dark when you lay it on a table. On a real bill, you only see it clearly when light passes through it.
Third, look at the "100" in the bottom right corner. It’s color-shifting ink. It should go from copper to green. If it stays one color, give it back.
The Global Obsession
I was talking to a currency expert once who mentioned that in some parts of the world, the "Big Face" Benjamins (the ones printed after 1996) are the only ones people will accept. If you show up in a remote village with an "Old Style" small-head Franklin from 1985, they might reject it. Even though it’s still legal tender in the U.S., the global market is terrified of older bills because they lack the modern security features.
The $100 bill is a symbol.
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It’s the ultimate "I’ve made it" marker. It’s why rappers throw them in music videos and why "It’s all about the Benjamins" became a permanent part of our lexicon. But more than that, it is the bedrock of the "informal economy."
Misconceptions You Should Stop Believing
A lot of people think the $100 bill is the highest denomination ever printed. It’s not. Not even close. We used to have $500, $1,000, $5,000, and even $10,000 bills. There was even a $100,000 gold certificate used for transactions between Federal Reserve banks. But the $100 bill is the highest denomination currently being printed.
Another myth? That Ben Franklin was a president. I touched on this, but it’s worth repeating because it’s a "Jeopardy!" staple. He wasn't. He was a diplomat, an inventor, a printer, and a philosopher. He was the "First American." Putting him on the highest bill was a nod to his role in securing the French support that literally won the Revolutionary War.
The Future of the C-Note
Are we going cashless? Maybe eventually. But the demand for the Benjamin Franklin $100 bill is actually increasing. Every time there’s a global crisis—like the 2008 crash or the 2020 pandemic—the number of $100 bills in circulation spikes. People want something they can touch. They want "cold, hard cash."
Digital numbers on a screen are great until the power goes out or the bank freezes your account. Franklin is reliable. He doesn't need Wi-Fi.
In the coming years, we might see another redesign. The Treasury is always playing cat-and-mouse with counterfeiters in North Korea and beyond who produce "Supernotes"—fakes so good they even fool some high-end scanners. For now, though, the 2013 design remains the standard.
Your Next Steps with Benjamins
If you’re holding onto $100 bills as a form of savings, you need to be smart about it.
- Storage Matters: Don't just put them in a damp basement. Cotton-linen paper can mold. Keep them in a cool, dry place, preferably in a fireproof safe.
- Check Your Old Bills: If you have $100 bills from the 70s or 80s, consider taking them to a bank and exchanging them for the new 2013 Series. While they are still legal tender, they are much harder to spend at retail stores because clerks don't recognize them and assume they are fake.
- Verify Every Time: If you’re selling something on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and someone hands you a stack of hundreds, do the "fingernail test" on the shoulder. It takes two seconds and saves you from losing hundreds of dollars.
- Understand the Limit: Remember that businesses aren't actually legally required to accept $100 bills. If a gas station has a sign that says "No bills over $20," they are within their rights. Always carry smaller denominations if you’re traveling in rural areas.
The Benjamin Franklin $100 bill isn't just money; it's an international icon. It’s a piece of history you can carry in your pocket. Whether it’s the 3D ribbon or the smirk on Ben’s face, it remains the most sophisticated piece of paper on the planet. Keep an eye on yours—everyone else is.