You’ve probably held one. Maybe you’ve even tucked a crisp one into a birthday card or felt that slight pang of anxiety when a cashier swipes that yellow counterfeit detector pen across Ben Franklin’s face. It’s the highest denomination of Federal Reserve notes currently in circulation, and honestly, it’s a masterpiece of engineering. But if you’re asking what does a one hundred bill look like, you aren't just asking about the color. You're asking how to tell if that piece of paper in your hand is actually worth a hundred bucks or if it's just a high-end photocopy.
Money is weird. It’s just cotton and linen. Yet, the 2013 redesign of the $100 note turned it into a high-tech security device. It's blue. It's gold. It's got disappearing ink. It is a far cry from the small-head notes your grandparents used to keep under their mattress.
The Face of the Bill: Why Benjamin Franklin Looks So Grumpy
Let’s start with the obvious. Benjamin Franklin. He’s been the face of the $100 bill since 1914. Why? Because he was one of the most influential Founding Fathers, despite never being President. In the current version—the "Series 2009" and later designs—Ben is looking right at you. Well, slightly to the right.
The portrait is huge. It’s an "enlarged" portrait that lacks the oval frame found on older bills. If you run your fingernail over his shoulder, you’ll feel something cool. It’s called intaglio printing. It’s a raised texture that’s almost impossible for standard inkjet printers to replicate. If the bill feels flat and smooth like a piece of printer paper, you’ve got a problem.
The paper itself isn't actually paper. It’s a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why it doesn’t fall apart in the wash. It also has tiny red and blue security fibers embedded throughout the paper. These aren't printed on top; they are part of the fabric.
The Big Blue Ribbon: The 3D Security Feature
If you want to know what does a one hundred bill look like today, the most striking feature is that vertical blue ribbon. It’s not just a stripe. It’s a 3D Security Ribbon.
When you tilt the bill back and forth, look at the blue ribbon. You’ll see images of bells and 100s moving. But here’s the kicker: when you tilt the bill vertically, the bells and 100s move horizontally. If you tilt it horizontally, they move vertically. It’s a visual trick called micro-lens technology. This ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on it. You can see it on the front, but if you flip the bill over, you can see where it’s actually threaded through the fibers.
The Color-Shifting Ink and the Bell in the Inkwell
Lower right corner. There’s a copper-colored inkwell. Inside that inkwell is a bell.
When you tilt the bill, that bell changes color from copper to green. This makes the bell appear to disappear and reappear within the inkwell. It’s a clever bit of security. Right next to it, the large numeral "100" in the bottom right corner also shifts from copper to green.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) spent years developing this. It’s meant to be a "public security feature," meaning you shouldn't need a UV light or a magnifying glass to check it. You just need your eyes and a little bit of movement.
The "Back" of the Bill: Independence Hall
Flip it over. You’re looking at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. But wait—there’s a detail most people miss. The time on the clock tower. On the older bills, the clock was set to roughly 4:10. On the redesigned note, it's roughly 10:30.
There is no "small head" version of the current back. The engraving is incredibly detailed. If the lines of the building look blurry or "bleeding" together, it’s likely a fake. Genuine bills use extremely fine line work that stays sharp even under a microscope.
Hidden Secrets: Watermarks and Microprinting
Hold the bill up to a light. This is the classic test.
To the right of the portrait, in the blank space, you should see a faint image of Benjamin Franklin. This is the watermark. It should be visible from both sides of the note. It doesn’t look like a cartoon; it looks like a ghostly version of the main portrait. If the watermark is too dark or looks like it was drawn on with a marker, it’s a counterfeit.
Then there’s the security thread. This is a thin vertical strip—different from the blue ribbon—that runs to the left of the portrait. It’s embedded in the paper and says "USA 100." If you hit it with a UV light, it glows pink.
Microprinting is another layer of defense. You’ll need a magnifying glass for this. Check out:
- The collar of Franklin's jacket: It says "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
- The space around the watermark: It says "USA 100."
- The golden quill: It says "USA 100."
If these words look like a solid line or a bunch of dots, the bill is a fake.
Why the $100 Bill Changed
The U.S. government doesn't just change the look of money for fun. The $100 bill is the most frequent target of international counterfeiters. Specifically, the "Supernote"—a high-quality counterfeit allegedly produced by North Korea—forced the U.S. Treasury to get aggressive.
The current design, which officially entered circulation in October 2013, was delayed for years because of printing "creases" and issues with the 3D ribbon. It was a massive undertaking. They wanted a bill that was easy for a person in a dimly lit bar to verify but impossible for a criminal with a million-dollar press to copy.
So, what does a one hundred bill look like in terms of color? It’s not just "greenback" anymore. The new $100 has hues of blue, gold, and even a bit of pink in the security thread. It’s a colorful, multi-layered document.
Variations You Might Still See
Not every $100 bill looks like the high-tech blue one. You will still find older versions in circulation.
- The Series 1996 Design: This one has a large portrait of Franklin but lacks the blue 3D ribbon and the copper inkwell. It still has the watermark and the color-shifting "100" in the corner (though it shifts from green to black).
- The "Small Head" Series (Pre-1996): These are getting rare. Franklin is in a small oval in the center. There are very few security features—no watermark, no security thread. While they are still legal tender, many businesses are hesitant to take them because they are so easy to fake.
If you find a small-head $100, don't panic. It's still worth $100. But don't be surprised if the cashier calls a manager over to look at it.
How to Handle a Suspect Bill
If you're looking at a bill and something feels "off," trust your gut. Usually, it’s the paper. Real currency paper has a specific "snap" to it. Counterfeits often feel greasy, waxy, or like standard office paper.
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Don't rely solely on the counterfeit detector pens. Those pens only react to the starch in wood-based paper. Professional counterfeiters sometimes "bleach" $5 bills and print $100 designs on top of them. The pen will say the paper is real (because it is), but the watermark will still be Abraham Lincoln, not Ben Franklin. Always check the watermark.
Actionable Steps for Verification
If you are dealing with cash regularly, follow this three-step "Feel, Tilt, Check" method:
- Feel the paper: Rub your thumb over Franklin’s shoulder. It should be rough and textured.
- Tilt the bill: Watch the blue ribbon and the copper bell. They should move and change color smoothly.
- Check the light: Hold it up. Look for the Franklin watermark and the internal security thread.
If a bill fails any of these, do not put yourself in danger. In the U.S., you are technically supposed to contact the Secret Service or local police. Whatever you do, don't try to "spend" it once you know it's fake—that's a felony, even if you weren't the one who made it.
Knowing what does a one hundred bill look like is basically a survival skill in a world where digital payments haven't quite killed off the king of cash. Keep your eyes on the blue ribbon, feel for the texture, and always look for the ghost of Ben Franklin in the corner.