You probably have one in your wallet right now, or maybe you're just wishing you did. It’s the "Benjamin." The C-note. But honestly, most people just glance at the face to make sure it’s not a fake and move on. That’s a mistake because the front and back of a hundred dollar bill are actually masterpieces of engineering and history that tell a pretty wild story about how the U.S. tries to stay one step ahead of North Korean super-noters and basement counterfeiters.
The $100 bill isn't just paper. It’s a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. If you accidentally wash it, it doesn't fall apart like a receipt because it’s technically fabric. It’s rugged.
The Face of the Franchise: Benjamin Franklin
Let’s look at the front. Benjamin Franklin is staring at you. Interestingly, he’s one of the few non-presidents to grace our paper currency—the other big one being Alexander Hamilton on the ten. Why Franklin? Well, the guy basically invented the concept of the American identity, but more practically, he was a printer. He knew a thing or two about ink and paper.
In the 2013 redesign—which is the big, blue-ribboned version we use today—Franklin’s portrait doesn't have a frame. It’s "off-center" and larger than the old-school small-head bills from the 80s. This isn't just a style choice. By making the portrait larger, it's actually easier to see the fine details in his eyes and the wrinkles around his mouth. Our brains are hardwired to recognize faces. If a counterfeiter messes up even a tiny line in his expression, your subconscious usually screams "Wait, that looks weird."
The Blue Ribbon and the Inkwell
Check out that 3D Security Ribbon. It’s blue. It’s woven into the paper, not printed on it. If you tilt the note, you’ll see the bells change to 100s. It’s a trick of micro-lenses—thousands of them—built into the strip.
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Next to Ben, there’s a copper-colored inkwell. Inside it is a "Bell in the Inkwell." Tilt it. The bell changes from copper to green. This is what the Treasury calls "color-shifting ink." It’s incredibly expensive to produce and even harder to mimic with a standard inkjet printer. The goal here is simple: make it so a guy with a high-end scanner can't just hit "copy" and get rich.
Turning It Over: The Back of a Hundred Dollar Bill
Flip it. Now we’re looking at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This is the "back of a hundred dollar bill" that everyone recognizes, but there’s a specific detail most people miss. Look at the clock tower.
On the older bills, the time on the clock was roughly 4:10. On the newest Series 2009 and later notes, the time is 10:30. There isn't some Da Vinci Code conspiracy here; it’s just a design update. But it’s a great way to spot a lazy fake that tries to mix-and-match design elements from different eras.
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The back is also where you find the huge gold "100" in the corner. This helps people with visual impairments, but it also serves as another layer of security. The printing is "intaglio," meaning it’s raised. If you run your fingernail over the "100" or the "United States of America" text, it should feel scratchy. If it’s smooth as a baby’s forehead, you’re holding a piece of junk.
The Mystery of the Small Numbers
If you look closely at the back, you’ll see tiny yellow "100s" scattered in the blank space around the hall. This is part of the EURion constellation. It’s a pattern of symbols that tells modern photocopiers and Photoshop "Hey, don't scan this." If you try to open a high-res image of a hundred dollar bill in certain editing software, the program will literally shut you down or refuse to open the file.
Why the Redesign Took So Long
The current version of the bill was supposed to come out years before 2013. But they had a massive problem. The "mashing" of the paper during the printing process was causing creases. Because of that 3D blue ribbon, the paper was thicker in some spots than others. When the heavy plates came down to strike the ink, the paper would fold.
They had to mothball over a billion notes. Can you imagine? A billion hundred-dollar bills just sitting in a vault because they had a wrinkle. Eventually, they figured out the tension settings, and the "New 100" finally hit the streets.
How to Verify One in 3 Seconds
If you’re working a cash register or selling something on Facebook Marketplace, you don't need a fancy UV light. You just need your hands and eyes.
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- Feel the paper. It should be rough.
- Check the watermark. Hold it to the light. You should see a faint image of Ben Franklin in the blank space on the right. It should be visible from both the front and back.
- Look for the thread. There’s a vertical thread embedded in the paper (separate from the blue ribbon) that says "USA 100." Under a UV light, this glows pink.
- The tilt test. Tilt the bill. Does the bell in the inkwell change color? Does the blue ribbon move?
Honestly, the "security pen" that everyone uses is kinda useless. All it does is detect starch in wood-based paper. Professional counterfeiters "bleach" lower-denomination bills (like fives) and print hundreds over them. The pen will say it’s "real" paper because it is—but the bill is still a fake.
Actionable Steps for Handling Large Cash
- Ignore the pen. Instead, rely on the raised printing on Franklin’s shoulder. You can feel the ridges with your thumbnail.
- Examine the 3D ribbon. If the bells and 100s don't move when you tilt the bill, give it back.
- Compare series years. If you have a bill that says "Series 2006" but it has the big blue ribbon, it’s a counterfeit. The blue ribbon only appeared on the Series 2009 and 2009A notes and later.
- Check the serial numbers. On a real bill, the serial numbers are perfectly spaced and the ink matches the Treasury seal. If the numbers are slightly crooked or blurry, it's a red flag.
The front and back of a hundred dollar bill represent the pinnacle of U.S. currency technology. From the microprinting that requires a magnifying glass to read "The United States of America" along Franklin’s collar, to the color-shifting ink that costs a fortune to produce, every millimeter is designed to protect the value of the dollar. Next time you hold one, take a second to actually look at it. It’s a lot more than just pocket change.