Money feels different when it’s big. Not just the value, but the actual paper. If you’re staring at a 100 dollar bill image on your screen or holding a crisp "Blue Note" in your hand, you’ve probably noticed it doesn't look like the money your parents kept in their wallets. It’s busier. It’s more colorful. Honestly, it’s a bit of a localized technological marvel that most of us just use to pay rent without thinking twice about the engineering involved.
The 2013 redesign changed everything.
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Before that, Ben Franklin sat in a simple oval. He looked stoic, sure, but the bill was easy to fake. High-end counterfeiters—especially the ones linked to the "Supernote" operations in North Korea—were getting too good. The U.S. Treasury had to do something radical. They didn't just update the portrait; they turned the Benjamin into a high-tech security document that happens to work as currency.
What’s actually going on with the 100 dollar bill image?
Look closely at the center. There’s that thick blue ribbon. That isn't printed ink. It’s actually woven into the paper, not on it. If you tilt the bill, you’ll see little bells change into 100s. This is 3D security technology. It uses nearly a million micro-lenses to create the illusion of movement. It’s wild. Most people think it’s just a shiny sticker, but the physics behind those micro-lenses is closer to what you’d find in a high-end laboratory than a printing press.
Then there’s the Copper Bell in the Inkwell.
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When you move the bill, the bell shifts from copper to green. This "color-shifting" effect is meant to be the first line of defense against a basic color copier. A scanner can’t replicate the way light hits those metallic flakes. It just sees one flat color. If you see a 100 dollar bill image online and it looks "flat," that’s usually why. The real thing is three-dimensional in its interaction with light.
The stuff you probably missed
Benjamin Franklin himself got a makeover. He’s no longer trapped in that dark oval frame. He’s "free," and his shoulders extend all the way to the bottom of the note. But the real magic is the microprinting. You need a magnifying glass to see it, but "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is printed on his coat collar. It’s tiny. Most home printers just turn that text into a blurry mess of gray dots.
There is also a hidden watermark. Hold it up to a lamp. You’ll see a faint image of Franklin in the white space to the right of the main portrait. It’s visible from both sides. If the watermark isn't there, or if it looks like it was drawn on with a marker, you’re looking at a fake.
Why the "Blue Note" matters for your wallet
The transition to this new 100 dollar bill image wasn't smooth. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing actually had some major hiccups back in 2010. They had "mashing" issues where the paper would crease during the printing process, leaving a blank vertical strip on the bill. Millions of notes had to be quarantined. It delayed the release for years.
This matters because the older "small head" and "large head" bills are still legal tender. You don’t have to trade them in. However, if you travel abroad, you’ll find that many money changers in places like Southeast Asia or the Middle East will flat-out refuse any 100 dollar bill that isn't the new blue version. They’re scared of the older counterfeits. To them, the blue ribbon is the only thing that guarantees the paper is real.
The Federal Reserve's perspective
According to the Federal Reserve, the 100 is now the most widely circulated bill in the world. It surpassed the 1 dollar bill a few years ago. Think about that. There are more Benjamins floating around than singles. Most of them are held outside the United States as a store of value. When people in volatile economies want to save money, they don't buy gold as often as they buy stacks of 100s.
This global demand is why the 100 dollar bill image has to be so complex. It’s not just American money anymore; it’s the world’s reserve currency. If the security features were easy to crack, global markets would lose their minds.
How to spot a fake in three seconds
Forget the "counterfeit pen." Those pens just test for starch in the paper. Professional counterfeiters figured out how to bypass those years ago by bleaching 5 dollar bills and printing 100s on top of them. The pen thinks the paper is real because, technically, it is.
Instead, use your fingernail.
Run your nail across Ben Franklin’s shoulder. You should feel "raised printing." It’s a process called intaglio. It gives the bill a distinct texture that feels scratchy. Fakes are usually smooth because they’re made with inkjet or laser printers.
- Check the ribbon: Tilt the bill and make sure the bells move.
- Look for the thread: There’s a vertical security thread to the left of the portrait. It glows pink under UV light.
- The Gold 100: On the back of the bill, there’s a massive gold "100" intended to help people with visual impairments. It’s also a nightmare for counterfeiters to get the metallic sheen right.
The future of the Benjamin
Will we get a new 100 dollar bill image soon? Probably not for another decade. The current design is holding up well against most threats. There was talk years ago about adding more color—maybe purples or reds like the Euro—but the "Greenback" identity is hard to shake. The U.S. prefers the prestige of the traditional color palette.
Actionable steps for handling large bills
If you’re dealing with cash frequently, stop relying on the pen. It’s a false sense of security. Start looking for the "Three Ts": Texture, Transparency (the watermark), and Tilt (the blue ribbon).
- Feel for the raised ink on the portrait's shoulder immediately.
- Check the blue 3D ribbon for movement, not just color.
- Verify the watermark by holding it to a light source.
If a bill feels "waxy" or "too smooth," it’s likely a counterfeit. Real currency paper is a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. It’s actually fabric, which is why it doesn't fall apart in the washing machine like a receipt does. Keep an eye on those micro-lenses in the blue ribbon; if they don't move when you tilt the bill, you're holding a piece of paper, not a piece of history.