I work at an international airport where there’s a high influx of currency, and I have read that there are a higher number of counterfeits here. What do I do to be sure I don’t get stuck with one?
Although less than 1/100th of one percent of the value of all U.S. currency in circulation is reported counterfeit, the $100 note is the most widely circulated and most often counterfeited denomination outside the U.S. Information on the security features of each denomination of U.S. currency can be found on this website. You can also download a Multinote Booklet that describes the security features of each denomination at a glance. If you familiarize yourself with the security features, you’ll be able to quickly check any note you receive to make sure it’s real.
I work at a store where we have always used a counterfeit detector pen to check notes $20 and higher. Will this pen work on the new $100 note?
To be safe, we encourage you to use the security features to authenticate all U.S. currency. It only takes a few seconds to check the features on the new $100 note to be assured that the note you have is real. Counterfeit detector pens are designed to detect paper that is wood-based (like plain copier paper) by leaving a black mark on the note. When used on genuine U.S. currency – including the new $100 note, which is printed on paper made up of cotton and linen - they leave a faint yellow or clear mark. You should know, however, that such pens will not detect all counterfeits. Some counterfeiters use paper that is not wood-based and thus these counterfeits might not be revealed as fake by a counterfeit detector pen.
I work at a restaurant with very low lighting. How can I check the new $100 note in this type of environment?
The security thread, located in the paper to the left of the portrait of Benjamin Franklin, offers a feature that is particularly helpful for checking in low-light environments. If you have a source of ultraviolet (UV) light, you can illuminate the $100 note with a UV light, and the security thread will glow pink.
A security thread can also be found on the redesigned $5, $10, $20 and $50 notes. Learn where to find the security thread on each denomination and what color each denomination’s security thread will glow when illuminated by UV light.
Raised printing is another feature that can be used to authenticate the new $100 note when low-lighting is a concern. Move your finger up and down Benjamin Franklin’s shoulder on the left side of the note to feel the raised printing. It should feel rough to the touch, which is a result of the enhanced intaglio printing process used to create the image.
I work with a number of customers whose eyesight is poor. Is there a feature on the new $100 note to help them distinguish the note?
Individuals with visual impairments can look for a large gold numeral 100 on the back of the note. The numeral’s considerable size stands out and helps those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination. Remember, though, that the large numeral 100 is not a security feature.