Who Is On The 100 Dollar Bill: History, Security Features, And Portrait Design
Benjamin Franklin is featured on the United States one-hundred-dollar bill, making him the only non-president depicted on a currently circulating US Federal Reserve note. This high-denomination currency note incorporates complex intaglio printing, microscopic text, and color-shifting security elements designed to mitigate advanced counterfeiting vectors.
Understanding Federal Reserve Note Standards and Currency Design
Navigating United States currency standards requires an understanding of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) production methods and the statutory regulations governing paper money. The current Series 2009A and Series 2013 one-hundred-dollar bills feature Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and Independence Hall on the reverse. Examining, handling, or authenticating these notes demands familiarity with exact physical specifications, tactile substrate characteristics, and visual inspection protocols.
- Essential Gear & Tools: Ultraviolet (UV) currency verification lamps, 10x jeweler loupes for microprinting inspection, polarized authentication markers, and reference samples of genuine cotton-linen currency paper.
- Mandatory Prerequisite Knowledge: Familiarity with intaglio raised printing textures, the Federal Reserve seal matrix, series year identification, and serial number prefix decoding.
- Estimated Operational Budget & Duration: Visual and tactile verification requires zero financial outlay and takes under 30 seconds per note; automated scanner calibration requires up to 15 minutes of device testing.
Step-by-Step Authentication and Visual Inspection Workflow
Step 1: Tactile Substrate and Obverse Portrait Verification
Inspect the physical composition of the note by feeling the paper texture and examining the portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the front. Genuine United States currency is printed on a unique blend of 75 percent cotton and 25 percent linen, infused with red and blue security fibers throughout the paper matrix. Run your thumb across Franklin's shoulder and the outer borders; authentic intaglio printing produces a distinct, raised ridge texture that cannot be replicated by standard inkjet or laser printers.
Warning: Smooth paper surfaces or glossy finishes indicate standard wood-pulp or synthetic paper stocks, which confirm an absolute counterfeit failure.
Step 2: Inspection of the Color-Shifting Bell in the Inkwell
Locate the copper-colored inkwell on the lower right-hand corner of the obverse side, which houses a color-shifting image of the Liberty Bell. Tilt the note back and forth horizontally and vertically to observe the visual transition of the bell from copper to green. The color change must be sharp, distinct, and uniform across the entire surface of the graphic element.
Pro-Tip: If the copper color remains static or shows pixelated dots under magnification, the note lacks the specialized optically variable magnetic pigment (OVMP) used by the BEP.
Step 3: Verifying the 3D Security Ribbon and Watermark
Examine the blue, woven-style 3D security ribbon embedded vertically into the paper to the right of the portrait. Tilt the bill slightly while observing the ribbon; the printed bells and numerical 100 symbols must shift up and down or side to side as the viewing angle changes. Next, hold the bill up to a transmitted light source to reveal a faint, ghostly portrait of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space to the right of the main engraving.
Step 4: Microprinting and Ultraviolet Feature Analysis
Position a 10x jeweler loupe over the golden number 100 in the lower left corner and across the lapel of Benjamin Franklin's coat to inspect for crisp, legible microprinting. The text reads "USA 100" and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in letter heights measuring fractions of a millimeter. Place the note under a 365nm ultraviolet light source; the embedded security thread running vertically through the note must glow pink, and the invisible Federal Reserve seal to the left of the portrait must glow bright yellow.
100 Dollars (Federal Reserve Note; small portrait; with security thread ...
Technical Specifications and Denomination Comparison Matrix
| Currency Feature | One Hundred Dollar Bill | Fifty Dollar Bill | Twenty Dollar Bill | Ten Dollar Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Portrait | Benjamin Franklin | Ulysses S. Grant | Andrew Jackson | Alexander Hamilton |
| Reverse Vignette | Independence Hall | United States Capitol | White House | US Treasury Building |
| Substrate Material | 75% Cotton / 25% Linen | 75% Cotton / 25% Linen | 75% Cotton / 25% Linen | 75% Cotton / 25% Linen |
| Primary Security Element | 3D Blue Security Ribbon | Color-Shifting 50 | Color-Shifting 20 | Color-Shifting 10 |
| Raised Intaglio Printing | Yes (Entire Obverse) | Yes (Entire Obverse) | Yes (Entire Obverse) | Yes (Entire Obverse) |
Common Counterfeit Indicators and Field Remediation Protocols
- Root Cause: Smooth, flat surface texture lacking tactile relief across the portrait and borders.
- Actionable Fix: Reject the note immediately, as standard office printers cannot replicate high-pressure intaglio plate embossing. Test substrate composition using a currency pen to detect starch-based counterfeit paper.
- Root Cause: Static inkwell color that does not shift from copper to green when tilted.
- Actionable Fix: Inspect the inkwell under magnification for dot-matrix printing patterns. Genuine optically variable ink exhibits metallic sheen and dynamic color displacement.
- Root Cause: Opaque, printed watermark visible without holding the bill to a light source.
- Actionable Fix: Real watermarks are formed during the paper manufacturing process via density variations in the pulp. Surface-printed gray approximations will appear opaque and muddy when back-lit.
- Root Cause: Omitted or blurry microprinting around the portrait collar and numerical denominations.
- Actionable Fix: Apply a 10x or higher optical loupe. Counterfeits frequently render microtext as solid, unbroken lines or illegible smudges due to inkjet resolution limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Benjamin Franklin on the 100 dollar bill if he was never president?
Benjamin Franklin is honored on the note due to his monumental status as a Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, printer, and scientist. While United States currency statues do not restrict portraits exclusively to former presidents, historical figures of significant national stature frequently grace high-value Federal Reserve notes.
What building is printed on the back of the 100 dollar bill?
The reverse side of the current-design one-hundred-dollar bill features an architectural rendering of Independence Hall located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The clock face on the tower of Independence Hall is historically set to approximately 4:10, though older series featured slightly different artistic interpretations of the courtyard.
How can I verify a 100 dollar bill without special tools?
You can authenticate a note without tools by checking for the raised intaglio texture on Franklin's shoulder, tilting the bill to watch the bell in the inkwell shift from copper to green, and holding the note to the light to reveal the portrait watermark and the pink-glowing security thread.
What security features were added to the redesigned 100 dollar bill?
The redesign introduced a 3D security ribbon with shifting bells and 100s, a color-shifting bell inside a copper inkwell, raised printing on the shoulder of Benjamin Franklin, and high-resolution microprinting across multiple zones of the obverse face.
Are older designs of the 100 dollar bill still legal tender?
All designs of United States Federal Reserve notes issued from 1914 forward remain legal tender at their full face value, regardless of their age or series year. Retailers and financial institutions are not legally required to accept older designs, but the federal government honors them indefinitely.
Master currency authentication protocols today by equipping your cash-handling workflow with professional verification tools and rigorous physical inspection habits.
