How to Identify a Fake $100 Dollar Bill

Genuine vs Counterfeit $100 Bill Security Features Checklist

Security Features of a Real $100 Bill

Genuine $100 notes incorporate multiple layers of security features that work together to prevent counterfeiting. The US Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve designed these elements to be easy for the public to verify without specialised equipment, though some features become more apparent under ultraviolet light or magnification.

Visible Security Features

The 3-D Security Ribbon is woven directly into the paper, not printed on the surface. This blue ribbon displays images of bells and 100s that move and shift when you tilt the note². The movement is three-dimensional: bells change to 100s as you tilt, and the images move side to side. Counterfeiters typically print a ribbon on the surface rather than weaving it through the paper, which makes the feature flat and static.

The numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front shifts from copper to green when you tilt the bill¹. This colour-shifting ink is difficult to reproduce accurately; fake bills often show no colour change or a poor-quality shift that looks printed rather than metallic.

Features Visible Under Light

Hold the bill up to a light source to see two embedded security elements. A watermark of Benjamin Franklin appears on the right side of the note, matching the printed portrait³. The security thread runs vertically through the paper and is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern¹. Under ultraviolet light, this thread glows pink—counterfeit threads often glow the wrong colour or not at all.

Tactile and Microscopic Features

Run your finger across Benjamin Franklin's shoulder to feel raised printing¹. Genuine currency uses intaglio printing that creates a distinct texture; counterfeit notes typically feel smooth because standard printers cannot replicate this raised effect.

Microprinted text reading "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" appears on Benjamin Franklin's jacket collar¹. You need a magnifying glass to read this text clearly—on fake bills, microprinting appears blurry or as a solid line.

The paper itself contains red and blue security fibres and is composed of one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton¹. This gives genuine currency a distinct texture compared to standard paper. The security fibres are embedded throughout the paper, not printed on the surface as they often are on counterfeits.

For a broader overview of counterfeit detection across all denominations, see How to Identify Fake Dollar Bills: Detection Guide.

How to Spot a Fake $100 Bill

When you receive a $100 note, checking for missing or poorly reproduced security features reveals whether the bill is genuine. Counterfeiters struggle to replicate the sophisticated elements built into authentic currency, so examining these features in sequence gives you a reliable verification method.

Check the 3-D Security Ribbon

Hold the bill flat and locate the blue ribbon running vertically through the paper on the front of the note. The 3-D Security Ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on the surface². Tilt the bill slowly from side to side: genuine ribbons display images of bells that transform into 100s as you change the angle, and these images move in the opposite direction to your tilt. On a counterfeit, the ribbon is typically printed rather than woven, making it flat and static—the images do not move or change, and you can sometimes feel the ribbon as a raised surface rather than part of the paper itself.

Test the Colour-Shifting Ink

Tilt the bill to examine the numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front. On a genuine note, this numeral shifts from copper to green as you change the viewing angle¹. The colour change should be smooth and metallic in appearance. Counterfeit bills often show no colour shift at all, or the shift appears dull and printed rather than iridescent. This feature works in normal lighting and requires no equipment, making it one of the quickest checks you can perform.

Verify the Security Thread Under UV Light

Hold the bill up to a light source to see the security thread embedded vertically in the paper. This thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern¹. Under ultraviolet light, the thread glows pink—if you have access to a UV lamp or counterfeit detection pen with UV capability, this test confirms authenticity quickly. Fake bills either lack the thread entirely, show a printed thread on the surface, or glow the wrong colour (often blue or yellow instead of pink) under UV illumination.

Look for the Watermark

While holding the bill to light, check the right side of the note for a watermark of Benjamin Franklin³. The watermark should match the printed portrait on the left and be visible from both sides of the bill. On counterfeit notes, the watermark is often absent, blurry, or printed on the surface rather than embedded in the paper. A genuine watermark appears as part of the paper's structure and shows the same level of detail as the printed portrait.

Examine Microprinting

Use a magnifying glass to inspect Benjamin Franklin's jacket collar on the front of the note. Genuine bills have microprinted text reading "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" along the collar¹. This text should be sharp and legible under magnification. Counterfeit bills reproduce microprinting poorly—it appears as a blurry line or a series of dots rather than readable letters. If you do not have a magnifying glass, even a smartphone camera with digital zoom can reveal whether the text is crisp or degraded.

Feel for Raised Printing

Run your finger across Benjamin Franklin's shoulder on the front of the note. Genuine currency uses intaglio printing that creates raised texture you can feel¹. The shoulder, lapel, and other areas of Franklin's portrait should have a distinct tactile quality. Counterfeit notes printed with standard inkjet or laser printers feel smooth because they cannot replicate this raised effect. This tactile check works even in poor lighting and requires no tools.

If multiple features fail these checks—for example, the ribbon does not move, the ink does not shift colour, and the printing feels flat—the bill is almost certainly counterfeit. Genuine $100 notes incorporate all these security features together³, so the absence of even one element warrants closer inspection before accepting the note.

Step-by-Step Verification of a $100 Bill

When you need to verify a $100 note quickly, follow this systematic checking process. Each step targets a specific security feature that counterfeiters struggle to replicate, and the sequence moves from the fastest visual checks to more detailed examination.

Tilt the Bill to Check Colour-Shifting Ink

Hold the bill flat and tilt it slowly back and forth while watching the numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front. On a genuine note, this numeral shifts from copper to green as you change the viewing angle¹. The colour change should appear smooth and metallic, not printed or flat. This check takes only a few seconds and works in normal lighting—if the numeral does not shift colour or the transition looks dull, proceed immediately to the other security features before accepting the bill.

Examine the 3-D Security Ribbon

Locate the blue ribbon running vertically through the paper on the front of the note. Tilt the bill from side to side and watch for images of bells that transform into 100s as you change the angle². The images should move in the opposite direction to your tilt, and the ribbon itself must be woven into the paper rather than printed on the surface. Run your finger across the ribbon—if you feel it as a raised surface, the bill is likely counterfeit, because genuine ribbons are embedded within the paper structure.

Hold the Bill Up to Light

Position the bill between your eyes and a light source such as a lamp or window. Look for two embedded features: a watermark of Benjamin Franklin on the right side of the note, and a security thread running vertically through the paper³. The watermark should match the printed portrait and be visible from both sides. The security thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern¹. Both features should appear as part of the paper itself, not printed on the surface—if either is absent or looks printed, the bill is counterfeit.

Use UV Light to Verify the Security Thread

If you have access to an ultraviolet lamp or counterfeit detection pen with UV capability, illuminate the security thread. On a genuine $100 note, the thread glows pink under UV light¹. Counterfeit threads often glow blue, yellow, or not at all. This test provides quick confirmation when you have the equipment available, though the previous steps remain effective without it.

Feel for Raised Printing

Run your fingertip across Benjamin Franklin's shoulder on the front of the note. Genuine currency uses intaglio printing that creates a distinct raised texture¹. The shoulder, lapel, and other areas of Franklin's portrait should feel textured rather than smooth. Counterfeit notes printed with standard equipment cannot replicate this tactile quality—if the printing feels flat, the bill is likely fake.

Inspect Microprinting with Magnification

Use a magnifying glass or smartphone camera with digital zoom to examine Benjamin Franklin's jacket collar on the front of the note. Look for microprinted text reading "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" along the collar¹. On a genuine bill, this text should be sharp and legible under magnification. Counterfeit bills reproduce microprinting poorly—it appears as a blurry line or a series of dots rather than readable letters.

If the bill passes all six checks, it is almost certainly genuine. If two or more features fail—for example, the ink does not shift colour and the ribbon does not move—the bill is counterfeit. Genuine $100 notes incorporate all these security features together³, so the absence of multiple elements confirms the note is fake. When in doubt, compare the suspect bill directly to a known genuine note by checking each feature side by side.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

When verifying the authenticity of a $100 bill, several common pitfalls can lead to incorrect conclusions. Being aware of these mistakes helps ensure accurate identification of counterfeit notes.

Relying Solely on Visual Inspection Without Tactile Checks

Many people verify a $100 bill by only looking at its visual features, neglecting to check the tactile elements such as raised printing on Benjamin Franklin's shoulder¹. Counterfeiters can reproduce visual features fairly accurately, but replicating the distinct texture created by intaglio printing is more challenging. Always run your finger across Franklin's shoulder to feel for raised printing, as this provides a crucial additional verification step.

Ignoring the Security Thread Under Normal Light

Before using UV light, check the security thread under normal illumination to see if it's embedded in the paper and imprinted with 'USA' and '100' in an alternating pattern¹. Some counterfeits may have a surface-printed thread that looks correct at first glance but lacks the embedded quality of genuine threads. Verifying the thread's presence and appearance under normal light adds an essential layer of authentication.

Failing to Check Microprinting with Sufficient Magnification

Using inadequate magnification or poor lighting when examining microprinted text can lead to false conclusions about a bill's authenticity¹. Genuine microprinting on Benjamin Franklin's jacket collar should appear sharp and legible under proper magnification. Counterfeit bills often reproduce this text as a blurry line or series of dots. Ensure you use sufficient magnification to verify the microprinting clearly.

Misinterpreting the 3-D Security Ribbon as Printed

Some counterfeit $100 bills feature a printed 3-D Security Ribbon that mimics the genuine woven ribbon². To avoid being deceived, tilt the bill and check that the images on the ribbon move in the opposite direction to your tilt. Also, run your finger across the ribbon to verify it's woven into the paper, not printed on the surface. A genuine ribbon should feel embedded within the paper structure.

Not Comparing Suspect Bills to Known Genuine Notes

When in doubt about a $100 bill's authenticity, comparing it directly to a known genuine note can reveal discrepancies³. Check each security feature side by side, including the colour-shifting ink, 3-D Security Ribbon, security thread, watermark, microprinting, and raised printing. This direct comparison helps identify even sophisticated counterfeits that might pass individual checks.

Overlooking the Paper Composition

Genuine $100 notes are printed on paper composed of one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, containing red and blue security fibres¹. Counterfeit bills might use standard paper that lacks these fibres or has a different texture. While not always easy to verify without comparison, being aware of the paper composition can help identify suspicious notes that warrant further investigation.

Key Takeaways

To verify a $100 bill's authenticity, check these essential security features:

• Tilt the bill to see colour-shifting ink on the numeral 100
• Examine the 3-D Security Ribbon for moving images
• Hold the bill up to light to see the watermark and security thread
• Feel for raised printing on Benjamin Franklin's shoulder
• Inspect microprinted text on Franklin's jacket collar with magnification

For further guidance on identifying counterfeit currency, visit our explainer on How to Identify Fake Dollar Bills: Detection Guide.

Evidence and sources

1. $100 Note
2. Decoding Dollars $100 | U.S. Currency Education Program
3. Training Course - Security | U.S. Currency Education Program