The $100 Bill Has 10 Security Features: Do You Know Them All?

The $100 bill in your wallet contains ten distinct security features—many invisible to casual observation. The most counterfeited denomination in American currency has evolved into the most technologically sophisticated, incorporating innovations that make genuine notes nearly impossible to replicate perfectly.

The 3D Security Ribbon

The blue ribbon woven into the paper represents the $100 bill’s most advanced feature. This isn’t printed on—it’s physically embedded within the paper structure. Tilt the note and watch tiny 100s and liberty bells shift and move within the ribbon. The images appear to float and change position, an effect impossible to print or photocopy.

Look closer at this ribbon under magnification. The movement comes from hundreds of thousands of microlenses—tiny focusing elements that create different images depending on viewing angle. No commercial printing technology can reproduce this effect. Counterfeiters either omit the ribbon (obvious fake) or print a static version (detectable by tilting).

Color-Shifting Ink

The large 100 in the lower-right corner uses optically variable ink that shifts from copper to green when tilted. This technology, introduced in earlier series, has become more sophisticated over time. Current iterations display more dramatic color shifts and are harder to simulate with aftermarket inks.

Testing is simple: tilt the note under good light. The color change should be immediate and pronounced. Static colors—or unusual colors—indicate counterfeits. Some fakes attempt color-shifting effects with metallic inks, but the color range and transition quality differ from genuine notes.

Watermarks

Hold the $100 to light and look at the blank space to the right of the portrait. A faint image of Benjamin Franklin should appear—a watermark created during paper manufacturing by varying paper thickness. This watermark is in the paper, not printed on it, making replication extremely difficult.

A second watermark shows 100 in the blank space on the right edge. This dual-watermark approach provides multiple verification points. Counterfeits often show watermarks as shadow prints rather than true paper-density variations—the distinction is visible with careful examination.

Security Thread

A thin embedded strip runs vertically through the note, visible when held to light. The thread shows “USA 100” repeatedly along its length. Under ultraviolet light, this thread glows pink. The thread’s position, lettering, and UV properties provide multiple authentication points.

Each denomination has its thread in a different position with different text and UV color. The $100’s pink UV glow, left-of-center position, and “USA 100” text are specific to this denomination. Notes with wrong thread positions, text, or UV colors are counterfeits.

Microprinting

Tiny text too small to read without magnification appears throughout the $100 bill. “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” wraps around the collar of Franklin’s jacket. “USA 100” appears in tiny text within several design elements. “ONE HUNDRED USA” runs along the golden quill.

Standard printers can’t reproduce microprinting legibly—the text blurs into lines. Examining suspected notes under 5-10x magnification reveals whether microprinting appears as readable text (genuine) or blurry lines (counterfeit). This feature dates back decades but remains effective.

Raised Printing

Run your finger across the $100 bill. Genuine currency feels distinctly textured—you can feel the letters and lines as raised elements. This intaglio printing presses ink into paper under tremendous pressure, creating tactile features that photocopying or standard printing can’t replicate.

Franklin’s shoulder particularly shows this raised effect. The “ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS” text has distinct tactile presence. New notes feel crispier; circulation wears down this texture but never eliminates it entirely. Complete smoothness suggests either extreme wear or counterfeit origin.

Color and Paper

The $100 uses specific paper containing red and blue security fibers scattered randomly throughout. These fibers are embedded in the paper, not printed on the surface. Examining under magnification shows fibers running through the paper structure rather than sitting on top.

The color palette—specific shades of blue, copper, and the distinctive “greenback” color—uses proprietary inks. Commercial inks attempting to match these colors typically fall short under careful comparison. Side-by-side examination with known genuine notes reveals color discrepancies.

Additional Features

The inkwell to the left of the portrait contains a color-shifting liberty bell. As you tilt the note, the bell appears and disappears. This feature combines with the 3D ribbon to create multiple movement-based authentication points.

Infrared properties invisible without specialized equipment provide another security layer. Banks and large retailers use infrared detection devices that verify notes automatically. These features can’t be tested casually but provide commercial authentication.

Verification in Practice

Not every transaction requires checking ten features. Quick authentication focuses on the most reliable indicators: tilt the note to see the 3D ribbon move, check the color-shifting 100, and feel for raised printing. These three tests catch most counterfeits in seconds.

Thorough examination adds watermark inspection, UV light testing, and microprinting verification. Major transactions or suspicious notes warrant this additional scrutiny. Currency detector pens—testing for starch content in paper—provide a quick additional check, though sophisticated counterfeits sometimes defeat these.

The $100 bill’s security features represent decades of anti-counterfeiting evolution. Each major redesign adds technologies that make the previous generation of counterfeits obsolete. Knowing these features protects you from fake bills while providing appreciation for the engineering behind everyday money.