You’ve probably held one today, or at least wished you had. That crisp, blue-ribboned slip of paper that carries more weight than any other denomination in the U.S. Treasury's arsenal. But have you ever really looked at the guy staring back at you? Most people just call them "Benjamins." It's common knowledge that Benjamin Franklin is the face of the C-note, yet there is a weirdly persistent mystery about why he’s there in the first place. He wasn't a president. He never lived to see the U.S. dollar become a global reserve currency.
He's just... Ben.
But Franklin's presence on the $100 bill isn't an accident or a consolation prize for not making it to the Oval Office. It’s a deliberate nod to the man who basically invented the American concept of "hustle." When you pull a hundred out of your wallet, you aren't just looking at a Founding Father; you’re looking at the guy who literally wrote the book on how to get rich in America.
The Only Non-President on a Major Bill (Mostly)
Wait, that's not quite right. Alexander Hamilton is on the ten, and he wasn't a president either. But Franklin is different. Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury, so his face on money makes logistical sense. Franklin? He was a scientist, a writer, a postmaster, and a diplomat.
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He was the ultimate polymath.
The U.S. Treasury Department first put Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill back in 1914. Before that, the hundred-dollar note was a revolving door of historical figures. We had Admiral David Farragut, James Monroe, and even Abraham Lincoln (who eventually moved to the five and the penny). Once Franklin landed the spot, he never let it go. The government realized that if you want a face to represent the highest-value bill in general circulation, you want the guy who preached "a penny saved is a penny earned."
Honestly, it’s a bit ironic. Franklin actually didn't like the idea of paper money at first, but he eventually became its biggest champion. He even printed it himself. In the mid-1700s, Franklin’s printing press was cranking out colonial currency for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He even used a secret "leaf detection" method—pressing actual leaves into the copper plates—to prevent counterfeiting. He was fighting the same battle the Secret Service fights today, just with dirt and plants instead of 3D security ribbons.
Why Benjamin Franklin is the Face of Wealth
It's about the "American Dream" before that phrase was even a thing. Franklin was the youngest son of a youngest son for five generations. He was broke. He ran away from home. He had nothing. By the time he died, he was arguably the most famous man in the world.
He represents social mobility.
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When the Treasury looked at who should represent the $100 bill, they wanted someone who embodied the industriousness of the American people. Franklin fits. He was a printer who retired at 42 because he was so good at business. Who does that? He spent the rest of his life playing with lightning, inventing bifocals, and convincing the French to fund the American Revolution.
If George Washington is the "Father of the Country," Franklin is the "Grandfather of the American Economy." He understood that credit, reputation, and hard work were the three pillars of a successful life. Putting him on the largest bill sends a message: this money is for the builders.
The 2013 Redesign: More Than a Facelift
If you compare a bill from the 1980s to the one in your pocket now, Franklin looks like he’s had some work done. In 1996, his head got bigger and shifted slightly to the left. Then came the 2013 overhaul, which added the "3D Security Ribbon" and the "Bell in the Inkwell."
The tech is wild.
If you tilt the $100 bill, those little bells inside the blue ribbon change to 100s. It’s not printed on the paper; it’s woven into it. Millions of micro-lenses make those images move. Franklin's portrait itself is incredibly detailed, meant to be almost impossible for a standard printer to replicate without looking "muddy."
There’s a specific reason his face is so large. Human beings are naturally experts at recognizing faces. We can tell if a smile looks "off" or if the eyes look "dead" much faster than we can tell if a building or a tree is drawn incorrectly. By making Franklin's face the focal point, the Treasury creates a psychological barrier for counterfeiters. If Ben doesn't look like Ben, you know the money is fake.
Security Features You Can Check Right Now
Look closely at Franklin’s jacket. If you have a magnifying glass, you can see "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" printed in tiny letters along the quill and the words "USA 100" around the blank space where the watermark sits.
Watermarks are still the gold standard. If you hold the bill up to a light, a ghostly image of Franklin appears on the right side. It’s visible from both sides of the note because it’s not printed; it’s a variation in the paper thickness itself.
- The Color-Shifting 100: The number in the bottom right corner changes from copper to green.
- Raised Printing: Run your fingernail along Franklin’s shoulder. It should feel rough to the touch.
- The Gold 100: There is a large gold "100" on the back of the bill. It helps people with visual impairments identify the note.
The Mystery of the "Muzzled" Ben
There’s a weird conspiracy theory that pops up every few years. People claim that on the newer bills, Benjamin Franklin looks like he’s being "muzzled" or that his mouth is covered.
It’s just an engraving style.
The shading around his mouth is intended to create depth and prevent easy copying. When you look at the portrait under a microscope, it’s a series of intricate lines and dots. There's no secret message about free speech or government overreach hidden in his beard. Franklin was a man of many words—he wouldn't have let anyone muzzle him anyway.
Franklin vs. The $100 Bill Future
There has been a lot of talk about Harriet Tubman replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. People often ask if Franklin is next on the chopping block.
Probably not.
Franklin is one of the few figures in American history who remains almost universally liked. He wasn't a soldier, and he wasn't a polarizing politician in the modern sense. He was a scientist and a diplomat. Plus, the $100 bill is the most exported piece of U.S. currency. In places like South Africa, Russia, or Argentina, the "Benjamin" is a more stable form of savings than the local currency.
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Changing the face of the hundred would cause global confusion on a massive scale. For better or worse, Franklin’s face is the international symbol for "safe money."
How to Handle Your Benjamins
If you’re lucky enough to have a stack of these, you need to know how to take care of them. Modern bills are made of 75% cotton and 25% linen. They aren't actually paper. This is why they don't fall apart in the washing machine (usually).
But they aren't indestructible.
If a $100 bill is torn, you can still use it as long as more than 50% of the note is identifiable and you have enough of the security features to prove it’s real. If it’s badly damaged, you actually have to send it to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's Mutilated Currency Division. They have experts who spend all day piecing together burnt or rotted money like a high-stakes jigsaw puzzle.
Actionable Steps for the Everyday User
Don't just spend the money. Understand it. If you deal with cash frequently, especially in business, being able to verify the man on the bill is a vital skill.
- Feel the Paper: Real U.S. currency has a distinct texture. It’s "toothy." If a bill feels smooth like office paper, it’s almost certainly a fake.
- Check the Ribbon: Don't just look for the blue line. Move the bill. The bells should turn into 100s. If they are static, you're holding a counterfeit.
- Look for the "Ghost": Always hold the bill to the light. The watermark is your best friend. It should look like a refined version of Franklin, not a cartoonish sketch.
- Watch the Color: The copper-to-green shift on the "100" in the corner is very hard to fake. If it stays one color when you tilt it, give it back.
Franklin once said that "an investment in knowledge pays the best interest." Knowing exactly who is on your money and why he’s there is the first step in respecting the currency you work so hard to earn. He wasn't just a face; he was the architect of the very system that allows that bill to have value. Keep your Benjamins close, but keep your eyes on the security features closer.