Money is weird. We handle it every day, but how often do you actually look at it? Most people just glance at the "100" in the corner and shove it in their wallet. But Benjamin Franklin has a lot of secrets. Honestly, if you’re running a small business or just selling an old couch on Facebook Marketplace, knowing how to identify a real hundred dollar bill is basically a survival skill. Counterfeiters are getting smarter, but the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is stayin' one step ahead with tech that feels like it belongs in a spy movie.
It's not just about the paper. Actually, it isn't even paper. It’s a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why a bill feels crisp even after it goes through the wash, whereas a fake printed on standard wood-pulp paper will feel like a soggy receipt.
👉 See also: Northern Oil and Gas Stock Price: Why Everyone Is Watching NOG in 2026
The Blue Ribbon Isn't Just for Show
If you hold a modern $100 note—the Series 2004 or later—you'll see that 3D Security Ribbon. It’s blue. It’s woven into the paper, not printed on it. This is the big one. If you tilt the bill back and forth while focusing on that blue strip, you'll see bells change to 100s.
But here’s the kicker: they move in the opposite direction of how you tilt the bill. If you tilt it horizontally, the bells and 100s move up and down. If you tilt it vertically, they move side to side. It’s trippy. Most low-end fakes just try to paint a shiny line there. They can't replicate the microlenses used to create that motion effect. It’s incredibly expensive tech.
How to Verify a Real Hundred Dollar Bill in Five Seconds
You don't need a fancy UV light or a counterfeit pen. In fact, those pens are kinda unreliable. They just react to starch. If a counterfeiter uses high-quality "starch-free" paper or even treats a fake with certain chemicals, the pen might stay yellow, giving you a false sense of security. Rely on your eyes and your fingernails instead.
Feel the texture. Take your fingernail and run it across Benjamin Franklin’s shoulder. On a real hundred dollar bill, you’ll feel "raised printing." It’s a process called intaglio printing. The ink is literally sitting on top of the fibers. It feels rough, almost like a tiny file. If the suit feels smooth and flat, you're likely holding a high-quality photocopy.
Check the Watermark. Hold the bill up to a light source. You should see a faint image of Ben Franklin in the blank space to the right of the large portrait. It’s not just a stamp. It should be visible from both sides because it’s embedded inside the paper. If it looks like it was drawn on with a marker or if it’s too dark and blurry, be suspicious.
The Bell in the Inkwell. Look at the copper-colored inkwell next to Ben. There's a bell inside it. When you tilt the bill, that bell changes from copper to green. This "color-shifting ink" is one of the hardest things for criminals to get right. On a real hundred dollar bill, that shift is crisp. There’s no "in-between" muddy color. It's either copper or it's green.
🔗 Read more: The Art of War Sun Tzu: Why Everyone is Still Reading a 2,500 Year Old Military Manual
Microprinting: The Tiny Details
If you have a magnifying glass, or just really good eyesight, look at the collar of Franklin’s jacket. You’ll see the words "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in tiny, tiny letters. You’ll also find "USA 100" around the blank space where the watermark sits and "100 USA" along the golden quill.
Counterfeiters usually struggle with this because their printers aren't high-resolution enough. The letters often come out as a solid, blurry line. On a genuine note, those letters are sharp. They're perfect. It’s the difference between a high-def screen and an old tube TV.
Why the "Serial Number" Actually Matters
Every bill has a unique serial number. It’s the "DNA" of the money. If you have a stack of cash and two bills have the same serial number, well, one of them (or both) is a fake.
- The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year.
- The second letter identifies the Federal Reserve Bank that issued it.
- The numbers are printed in the same green ink as the Treasury Seal.
If the ink of the serial number doesn't match the green on the seal, or if the numbers are unevenly spaced, that’s a red flag. The BEP uses massive, heavy-duty presses. They don't make "alignment errors" like your home inkjet printer does.
The "Supernote" Problem
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Supernotes. These are high-end counterfeits, allegedly produced by state actors like North Korea. They are terrifyingly good. They use the same 75/25 cotton-linen blend. They use actual intaglio presses.
For a long time, the only way to catch a Supernote was to look at incredibly minute details, like the number of lines in the leaves of the Treasury Seal. But even Supernotes struggle with the new 3D security ribbon on the "Big Ben" redesigned notes. That’s why the government keeps changing the design. It's an arms race.
Actionable Steps for Handling Large Cash Transactions
If you find yourself holding a bill that feels "off," don't just pass it to someone else. That's actually a federal crime. Honestly, most people don't realize that "passing" counterfeit money knowingly is just as bad as making it.
✨ Don't miss: Today Gold Rate in Kerala Chart: Why Prices Are Smashing Records
- Compare it. If you have another $100 bill that you know is real, put them side by side. Your brain is surprisingly good at spotting "spot the difference" errors when they are right next to each other.
- Don't rely on the pen. Seriously. If you’re a business owner, invest in a small UV light. A real hundred dollar bill has a security thread that glows pink/red under UV light. It’s located on the left side of the bill.
- Check the edges. Real bills have sharp, clean edges. Counterfeits are often cut by hand or with cheap guillotines, leading to slightly uneven margins or "fuzzy" edges where the paper fibers have been torn rather than sliced.
- Call the Secret Service. If you're sure it's fake, put it in an envelope so you don't smudge any fingerprints. Note the description of the person who gave it to you. You won't get a "refund" for the $100, which sucks, but you’ll stay out of legal trouble and help catch the source.
The most important thing is just taking that extra three seconds. Look for the blue ribbon. Feel the shoulder. Watch the bell turn green. If those three things are there, you're almost certainly holding the real deal. Most fakes fail at least one of those "quick" tests. Stay sharp and don't let a "funny" piece of paper ruin your day. Over time, you'll develop a "feel" for it, and you won't even have to think about it anymore. It becomes second nature.