You’ve definitely held one, but you probably didn't look that closely. Most people just see the face of a guy who never actually served as President and think, "Cool, I'm rich." But the Benjamin Franklin 100 bill—the C-note, the Benjamin, the blue note—is essentially a high-tech fortress masquerading as pocket change. It is the most circulated U.S. banknote in the world, surpassing the $1 bill in popularity back in 2017. Why? Because it’s the global gold standard for "hiding" value, whether you're a billionaire in Manhattan or a street vendor in Buenos Aires.
Money is weird. We trust it because we have to. But the Federal Reserve and the Secret Service trust the $100 bill because they’ve packed it with more engineering than some mid-sized satellites.
The day Ben Franklin got a makeover
The last time the government did a major overhaul of the Benjamin Franklin 100 bill was in 2013. It was late. Actually, it was years late. Printing issues at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing caused massive delays because the new security features were so complex they were literally creasing the paper during the press runs.
When it finally hit the streets, it looked... different. There was a giant blue ribbon running down the middle that wasn't printed on the paper but woven through it. If you tilt the bill, you see bells changing into 100s. It’s a 3D effect that feels like black magic the first time you see it. This isn't just for show. It’s there because it is incredibly difficult for a counterfeiter in a basement to replicate a 3D woven polymer thread that interacts with light that way.
Ben himself looks a bit different too. He’s not encased in a tiny oval anymore. He’s "free." The portrait is based on Joseph-Siffred Duplessis’s 1785 painting, but it’s been enlarged and shifted to the left. This creates more space for a watermark on the right side.
Why Benjamin Franklin and not a President?
It’s a common trivia question. Why is he on the big one? Franklin was never the Commander in Chief. But honestly, he didn't need to be. He was the "First American." He was a scientist, an inventor, a diplomat, and—crucially for our wallets—the guy who helped shape the American fiscal identity.
He was also obsessed with the idea of "hard work" as the foundation of wealth. It's poetic, really. The man who wrote "A penny saved is a penny earned" ended up on the largest denomination in general circulation.
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The tech inside your wallet
Let's get into the weeds of the security features. If you have a Benjamin Franklin 100 bill on you right now, take it out. Feel the paper. It isn't actually paper. It’s a 75% cotton and 25% linen blend. That’s why it doesn't fall apart in the wash.
Look at the "100" in the bottom right corner. It’s printed with color-shifting ink. One second it's copper, the next it's green. This stuff is expensive and hard to buy. Then there's the "Bell in the Inkwell." There is a copper-colored inkwell next to Ben. Inside it, there’s a green bell that fades in and out when you move the bill.
It’s also covered in microprinting. If you use a magnifying glass, you can see "The United States of America" along Franklin’s collar. You can see "USA 100" around the blank space where the watermark sits. It’s everywhere. Most counterfeiters don't have the resolution on their printers to make those letters legible; they just look like blurry lines.
The stuff you can't see
Then there’s the ultraviolet stuff. If you hit a real Benjamin Franklin 100 bill with a blacklight, a vertical thread glows pink. If it glows blue or yellow or doesn't glow at all? You’ve got a problem.
- Security Thread: Glows pink under UV light.
- Watermark: A faint image of Ben that appears when held to light.
- Raised Printing: If you run your fingernail over Ben’s shoulder, it should feel rough.
- Gold 100: A large gold numeral on the back helps those with visual impairments.
The "Supernote" problem
Why go to all this trouble? Because of the "Supernote." For years, the U.S. was plagued by high-quality counterfeits that were allegedly being produced by state actors, specifically North Korea. These weren't your average "printed on a laserjet" fakes. They used the same paper, the same ink, and the same plates. They were so good that even some bank scanners couldn't catch them.
The 2013 redesign of the Benjamin Franklin 100 bill was a direct middle finger to the Supernote. By adding the 3D security ribbon and the color-shifting bell, the U.S. made it prohibitively expensive and technically "almost" impossible to forge. I say "almost" because someone is always trying. But as of now, the current Series 2009 and 2013 notes are some of the most secure documents on the planet.
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The $100 bill’s dirty secret
Here is something kind of wild: most $100 bills don't live in America. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, about 80% of all $100 bills are actually overseas.
In countries with unstable currencies or hyperinflation, the Benjamin Franklin 100 bill is the ultimate safety net. It’s a "store of value." People stuff them under mattresses in Caracas and Kiev. It’s a silent, green ambassador of American economic power.
However, this has led to some controversy. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and several economists have argued for years that we should actually abolish the $100 bill. Their logic is that high-denomination notes are the best friends of money launders, tax evaders, and drug cartels. It's much easier to carry a million dollars in $100s than it is in $20s. A briefcase full of Benjamins weighs about 22 pounds. If you used $20 bills, you’d need a literal pallet.
But for now, the Benjamin isn't going anywhere. The demand is too high.
How to spot a fake (The 5-second test)
If someone hands you a Benjamin Franklin 100 bill and you feel a bit suspicious, don't just rely on those yellow "counterfeit detector" pens. They are notoriously unreliable because they only react to starch. If a counterfeiter uses high-quality linen paper, the pen will stay yellow, and you'll get tricked.
Instead, do this:
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- Feel the paper. It should be crisp and slightly rough.
- Check the Blue Ribbon. Move the bill. Do the bells change to 100s? Do they move side-to-side when you tilt the bill up and down?
- Look for the Watermark. Hold it to a light. Ben should be there on the right. If he looks like a cartoon, it’s a fake.
- Check the Inkwell. The bell inside the inkwell should change from copper to green.
- Look at the numbers. The "100" in the corner should also change color.
If it passes all five, you’re basically safe.
The future of Ben
With the rise of digital payments and crypto, some people think physical cash is dying. It’s not. There is more physical U.S. currency in circulation today than at almost any point in history. The Benjamin Franklin 100 bill is a piece of technology that doesn't need a battery, doesn't need Wi-Fi, and is accepted in almost every corner of the globe.
It’s a weirdly beautiful object if you really look at it. The fine lines, the intricate geometry of the "100" on the back, and the subtle gradients of the blue and gold. It’s art that you can use to buy a lawnmower.
Practical Steps for Handling Large Bills
If you find yourself holding a stack of these, you should probably know how to manage them. First, if you're traveling abroad, always carry the newest versions (the ones with the blue ribbon). Many exchange offices in Southeast Asia or the Middle East will actually refuse the "small head" older versions or even the "big head" versions without the ribbon, or they'll give you a worse exchange rate for them.
Also, if you have a damaged Benjamin Franklin 100 bill, don't throw it away. As long as you have more than 50% of the bill and the serial numbers are legible, any bank in the U.S. is required to exchange it for a crisp new one. If it's really mangled—say, burned in a fire or eaten by a dog—you can actually mail it to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's Mutilated Currency Division. They have experts who spend all day piecing together "money puzzles" to reimburse citizens.
To keep your cash secure and ensure it remains valid, follow these specific habits:
- Storage: Avoid keeping bills in rubber bands for years; the rubber can degrade and damage the ink. Use paper straps or envelopes.
- Verification: Always use the "tilt" method for the 3D ribbon first, as it's the hardest feature to fake.
- Banking: If you receive a bill you think is counterfeit, do not put it in an ATM. Take it to a bank teller and explain your suspicion. If it's fake, you won't get the money back, but you'll avoid the risk of being accused of "passing" counterfeit notes, which is a felony.
Ultimately, the Benjamin is more than just money. It’s a masterpiece of security engineering that holds the global economy together one wallet at a time. Keep an eye on that blue ribbon. It’s the only thing standing between your net worth and a very expensive piece of scrap paper.