You’ve held it. Maybe you’ve even smelled it—that weird, metallic, ink-heavy scent that only comes from crisp American currency. If you're lucky enough to have a "C-note" in your wallet right now, you’re looking directly at a man who was never a president. That's usually the first thing that trips people up. Every other face on our paper currency—Washington, Lincoln, Hamilton (okay, he wasn't president either, but he's the other outlier), Jackson, Grant—fits a specific mold of state power. But the face on one hundred dollar bill belongs to Benjamin Franklin, a guy who spent more time playing with electricity and writing witty almanacs than campaigning for the Oval Office.
Why him?
It isn't just because he was a "Founding Father." That's a lazy answer. Franklin is there because he basically invented the American identity before the United States even existed. He was a printer. He was a scientist. He was a diplomat who charmed the French into funding our revolution. Most importantly for the Treasury, he’s a symbol of stability. In a world where digital crypto-coins vanish overnight, the "Benjamin" remains the ultimate global reserve.
The 1928 decision and the staying power of Ben
Back in 1928, the Department of the Treasury decided to standardize the look of American money. Before that, things were a bit of a mess. You had different sizes, different designs, and it was a counterfeiter’s paradise. When they shrunk the bills to the size we use today, they had to pick permanent faces. They chose Franklin for the hundred because his name was synonymous with thrift and hard work. Think "A penny saved is a penny earned," though he probably never said those exact words in that exact way.
He’s been there ever since.
While other bills have seen calls for change—like the long-running conversation about putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill—Franklin’s spot on the hundred is remarkably secure. Part of that is practical. The $100 bill is the most circulated note in the world. As of recent Federal Reserve data, there are actually more $100 bills in circulation than $1 bills. A huge chunk of these live overseas. In places with unstable local currencies, a Benjamin is the gold standard. Changing that face isn't just a design choice; it’s a massive geopolitical risk. You don't mess with the "brand" of the world's most trusted asset unless you absolutely have to.
Identifying the "New" Ben vs. the "Old" Ben
If you look at a stack of hundreds, you'll notice not all Franklins are created equal. In 1996, his head got significantly bigger. People called it the "big head" bill. It wasn't an ego trip for Ben; it was a security feature. By making the portrait larger and moving it slightly off-center, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) made it harder to forge and left room for a watermark.
Then came 2013. That’s when the face on one hundred dollar bill got its most high-tech makeover yet.
The current design, known as the "Series 2004" design (even though it took forever to release), features Ben without a portrait frame. He’s just floating there. But look closer at his shoulder. You’ll see "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" printed in tiny microtext. Look at his quill pen. Look at the copper-colored inkwell that turns green when you tilt it. There is a "Bell in the Inkwell" that disappears and reappears. It’s honestly some of the most sophisticated printing tech on the planet.
Franklin’s face itself is a security feature. Human eyes are incredibly good at detecting tiny flaws in familiar faces. If a counterfeiter messes up the curve of Ben’s smirk or the bridge of his nose by even a fraction of a millimeter, your brain flags it as "wrong" almost instantly. We are biologically hardwired to recognize the face on one hundred dollar bill, which makes Ben a better security guard than any holographic strip.
Why a non-president owns the highest denomination
It’s kind of funny when you think about it. The guy who wrote under the pseudonym "Silence Dogood" and obsessed over wood-burning stoves is the face of American wealth. But Franklin’s presence on the bill is a nod to the fact that America wasn't just built by politicians and generals. It was built by "deal-makers" and "thinkers."
Franklin was the first Postmaster General. He founded the first public lending library. He was a media mogul before that was a term. By putting him on the $100, the U.S. government is signaling that our value system is rooted in the Enlightenment—in science, reason, and civic duty. It’s also a bit of a flex. Having a world-class scientist on your money says something different than having a monarch or a dictator.
Also, let's be real: Ben was a bit of a rockstar in his time. When he went to France, he wore a fur hat instead of a powdered wig because he knew the French would love the "rugged American" vibe. He understood branding better than almost anyone in the 18th century. It’s only fitting that he became the ultimate American brand.
The counterfeiting war and the "Blue Ribbon"
If you’ve handled a hundred lately, you’ve felt the 3D Security Ribbon. It’s blue. It’s woven into the paper, not printed on it. When you move the bill, the bells change to 100s. It’s incredibly cool and wildly expensive to produce. The face on one hundred dollar bill stays the same, but the tech surrounding him is constantly evolving.
There’s a persistent myth that the government is going to phase out the $100 bill to stop criminals. You hear this every few years. People say, "Oh, only drug dealers use hundreds." Honestly, that’s just not true. While big bills are used in the "underground economy," they are also used by people who don't trust banks, by travelers, and as a hedge against inflation. The "Benjamin" is currently the most popular bill in existence. The Fed isn't getting rid of it anytime soon.
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Spotting a fake Benjamin
Don't just look at the face. Feel it. The BEP uses a special blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. It’s not actually paper; it’s fabric. If you run your fingernail across Ben’s shoulder on a real $100 bill, you should feel "raised printing." It’s a tactile experience called intaglio printing. Most fakes feel flat or "waxy" because they're made with inkjet or laser printers.
Another trick? Look for the "100" in the bottom right corner. On the newest bills, it shifts from copper to green. If it doesn't shift, you're holding a piece of junk. Also, check the watermark. Hold the bill up to the light. You should see a faint image of Ben’s face in the blank space to the right of the portrait. It should look like him, not a cartoon version of him.
What's next for the $100?
There are no immediate plans to redesign the hundred again. The 2013 overhaul was so massive and took so long—production was actually delayed for years because of "creasing" issues at the printing plant—that the Treasury is likely to stick with this version for a while. We might see minor "plate" changes or updated signatures (like when a new Treasurer is appointed), but the face on one hundred dollar bill is locked in.
He’s the ultimate survivor. He survived the move from large-size notes to small-size notes. He survived the transition from black-and-white portraits to the high-tech, color-shifting designs of the 21st century.
Practical Steps for Handling One Hundred Dollar Bills:
- Trust your hands first: Real bills have a "raised" texture on the portrait and the borders. If it’s smooth, be suspicious.
- The "Tilt" test: Always look for the color-shifting ink on the "100" and the inkwell. It’s the hardest feature for low-level counterfeiters to mimic.
- Check the ribbon: On the newer bills, the blue 3D ribbon is actually woven into the paper. You should be able to see it from both sides.
- Use a light source: Watermarks are your best friend. A fake watermark is often printed "on" the paper, but a real one is "in" the paper.
- Don't rely on "pens": Counterfeit detector pens only check for starch in wood-based paper. Sophisticated fakes use "bleached" lower denominations ($1 or $5 bills), which will pass the pen test but have the wrong watermark. Always check the face.
The $100 bill is more than just money. It's a piece of engineering. And Benjamin Franklin, the man who spent his life obsessed with how things worked, would probably be pretty happy to know his face is the one protecting the most valuable piece of paper in the world. Next time you're holding one, take a second to actually look at the engraving. The detail is staggering. It’s not just a bill; it’s a masterpiece of American manufacturing that keeps the global economy moving.