We're getting closer to the release of the latest and greatest $100 bill, which is being touted as having "over a decade of research and development" going into its new security features. Now, I don't handle hundred dollar bills nearly as often as I wish I did, but let's take a look at this new bill anyways, shall we?
So without any delay... Here's our brand new made-over hundred dollar bill:
Oh hello there Mr. Franklin. You're looking more colorful than usual today.
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In case you couldn't tell before they slapped that huge number on the side... This is a hundred dollar bill.
Alright, so it sure looks neat, but what are all those changes really for? I mean, it seems like we just got a new hundred dollar bill, didn't it? Well, despite changes made to the hundred dollar bill, it still remains the most counterfeited bill in the world, which forces the Department of Treasury to continually develop new methods to prevent any further counterfeiters from slipping any past us.
My first reaction, when learning more about the new bill online, was to be curious as to how necessary all this really is. I mean, when I think of counterfeiting, I think of old movies or old mobster stories or something. I mean, some kid trying to scan a print a fifty dollar bill isn't going to get very far no matter how many precautions we toss up, right? Turns out counterfeiting is not only a problem, but hasn't slowed down since the very first person decided copying money would be a better alternative to earning it... In fact, did you know the U.S. Secret Service was actually created to combat counterfeiting? Eventually they got put in charge of the whole protecting the president gig, but fighting counterfeiting is still under their jurisdiction. That's right. Printing off a twenty and trying to buy dinner with it isn't a misdemeanor or a slap on the wrist, it's a Federal Felony handled by the Secret Service.
So yeah, turns out counterfeiting isn't only a problem, but a very real one. Whether it's people figuring out ways to print very real looking copies of bills, or people buying $150 worth of groceries with a fake $200 bill complete with George W. Bush's portrait on the front, the very best way to prevent and deter potential counterfeiters is by updating and increasing the security of our bills.
So what changes are being made? Turns out, quite a few... (all information comes from http://www.newmoney.gov/currency/100.htm - which has plenty of awesome features and images all about the new bill.)
-3D Security Ribbon-
3D is all the rage these days. From Avatar, to 3D TVs, it looks like the latest fad has somehow made its way into our wallets. With how much money we shill out for those 3D movies, I guess it only makes sense...
The new strip is a blue ribbon running down the middle of the front of the bill. Tilting the note back and forth while looking at the ribbon will cause both the images to move as you tilt the bill, as well as causing the small 100s to switch to images of a bell and back again. Interestingly, the ribbon isn't simply printed onto the bill, but woven into the paper.
-Bell in the Inkwell-
This new image on the front of the bill utilizes a color shifting ink, where as you tilt the bill the color of the bell imprinted within the inkwell will shift from copper to green, causing it to "appear" and "disappear"
(Keeping both of these new advances in the bill in mind, I can't help but feel like the hundred dollar bill is starting to seem more and more like a POG Slammer or a baseball card or something... Not that that's a bad thing in the least bit, in fact, it looks like our money is just getting more awesome as the years go by.)
-"Gold 100"-
According to the treasury department, the large gold 100 appearing on the back of the note is to help "those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination." I don't doubt that's why they added that feature, but I have to say, this is my favorite addition to the bill. I only wish the rest of our bills had huge colorful numbers on the back. Hopefully in due time...
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Alright, I barely scratched the surface here, if you have a spare minute, you should really check out the Department of the Treasury's website all about the new $100 bill. They've got some interactive images and videos showing off all the cool new and continuing features and security measures on the upcoming hundred dollar bill.
If you're like me, and you don't really get the opportunity to handle too many hundred dollar bills, but you'd still like to see all these new features up close and in person, check out our cash loans as well as our referral program, where we give you a cool hundred each time you refer a friend who takes out a loan through Progressive Payoff.
Oh, and also, don't try buying lunch with one of these:
That's just a bad idea for several reasons.
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