New US $100 Bills Enter Circulation

By
Darrin Lee Unser
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Occurring just shy of two years and eight months after they were initially expected, the new $100 Federal Reserve Note was released into circulation today, October 8, 2013. The Federal Reserve Bank system is now shipping the notes to financial institutions.

Front of New $100 Federal Reserve Note, Back Light
Here, the front of the new $100 bill shows some of its security features under a back light.

These new $100 bills feature several security enhancements that were originally due to hit banks on February 10, 2011. That release was put on hold when production issues surfaced.

Now resolved, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was able to stockpile enough of the new notes to guarantee a smooth release.

"The Federal Reserve Board is going to begin issuing the redesigned $100 note on October 8, 2013, but it may take some time before you see a new design $100 note in circulation," states Sonja Danburg, Program Manager, U.S. Currency Education Program.

"We’ve built up large inventories of redesigned $100 notes in Federal Reserve Bank vaults across the United States. Beginning on October 8, any financial institution that orders $100s from the Federal Reserve will receive the new design. But the time it takes a note to journey from there to businesses and consumers is influenced by distance, demand, and the policies of individual financial institutions."

Halting the debut appearance was an issue with creasing. The problem had not developed during pre-production runs but surfaced during mass production.

Back of New $100 Federal Reserve Note, Back Light
Here, the back of the $100 Federal Reserve Note is shown, also under a back light.

Previous generation $100 bills made their initial appearance back in March 1996. Since then, all other denominations have received a facelift leaving only the $100 note. An updated version was sought since it is the most counterfeited and second most common note in circulation. New security features were needed to combat all the fakes.

Changes and New Security Features on $100 Bill

New $100s feature several security measures with two advanced ones, the blue 3-D Security Ribbon and the Bell in the InkWell.

Bell in Inkwell and 3D Ribbon Security Features of $100
Two advanced security features in the new $100 bill include a blue 3D Security Ribbon and the Bell in the Ink Well that change when the banknote is tilted. Top Left: The two images show the bell and 100s that swap. Bottom Right: The two images show how the color of the inkwell changes. (Click image above to enlarge it.)

For the first, micro-images of bells and 100s seem to switch back and forth on the ribbon as the note is shifted. The vertical ribbon itself is woven into the paper, not printed on it.

For the second found to the right of Benjamin Franklin’s portrait, a color-shifting bell in a copper inkwell changes from copper to green as the note is shifted, causing it to "disappear" from view.

Microprinting in $100 Notes
Microprinting, described further below, also appears throughout the new banknotes.

Other security and special features include:

  • A portrait watermark that reveals a faint image of Benjamin Franklin when the note is held to the light.

  • The numerical 100 in the lower right corner of the front shifts from copper to green when the note is tilted.

  • Raised printing can be felt throughout the note.

  • A large gold numerical 100 on the back of the note helps those with visual impairments.

  • Microprinting of small words appear on the jacket collar of Benjamin Franklin’s portrait, around the blank space containing the watermark, along the golden quill and in the note borders. Corresponding words by these locations are ‘United States of America’, ‘USA 100’, and ‘ONE HUNDRED USA’.

  • Special paper that has red and blue security fibers. The paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton.

Color-Shifting Numerical 100 on New $100 Bills
Here, the changing colors of the color-shifting numerical 100 is shown.

$100 Federal Reserve Notes Printed at Two Locations

These notes, like all others, are produced at Bureau of Engraving and Printing facilities in Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, Texas. Those from Fort Worth will have a small ‘FW’ printed in the top left corner on the front of the bill to the right of the numerical 100. Bills printed in Washington, D.C. will not have an indicator.

Fort Worth Designation on $100 Federal Reserve Note
Much line coins have mint marks denoting where they were produced, the new $100s have a designation of “FW” if they were printed in Fort Worth, Texas.

More Information

As mentioned, consumers should not expect to find the new bills in circulation immediately. In addition, old currency will still remain legal tender.

Additional information on the new $100 bill can be found on the site http://www.newmoney.gov/.

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Doesee Does

Per POTUS new appointee to the FED, you will need to exchange $1,000 “old” US $dollars for one new Dollar, but be happy, there is NO INFLATION….har dee har har…..

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Vachon

“In addition, old currency will still remain legal tender.” Expect to receive puzzled looks and accusations that said notes are fake for those of you still spending them.

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Kahoola

Money is deposited directly to the account. Feds take out taxes directly from account. You charge everything to plastic cards. No checks, no cash. You try to buy a car for 10K in cash and you get reported to the feds for laundering drug money or tax evasion. Now days all the fed needs to do is to push the button and voila! You just created a trillion dollars electronically. Don’t even need to print anything. Somehow the new C notes seem irrelevant these days…

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