How to Tell If a 100 Dollar Bill Is Real (Old & New Bills)

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Plus, how to report a fake 100 dollar bill if you get passed one

Co-authored by Elaine Heredia, BA Reviewed by Andrew Lokenauth

Last Updated: March 5, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Checking New Bills
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• Checking Old Bills
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• Reporting Counterfeits
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• Video
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• Q&A

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Considering there's an estimated $70-$200 million in counterfeit bills circulating in the U.S., learning how to spot a fake 100-dollar bill is a great idea. Fortunately, it's easy to tell if a 100-dollar bill is real if you know what to look for. To help you out, we've made a list of all the ways you can authenticate a real 100-dollar bill, whether you're looking at a current bill issued after 2013 or an old one issued before 2013. We'll also share how to report a counterfeit bill if you find one.

How do you know if you have a real 100 dollar bill?

For series 2009 and 2009A $100 bills, verify that the serial number letter corresponds with the series (J for series 2009, L for series 2009A). You can also visually examine it for a 3D blue security ribbon, look in the inkwell for a color-changing bell, and look for a pink thread under UV.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Checking Newer 100 Dollar Bills (Series 2009)

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1. 
   1
   Verify the serial number corresponds with the series. The serial number appears in the upper left and lower right corners of every $100 bill. If the serial number doesn’t correspond to the series, then you're dealing with counterfeit money. The newest 100-dollar bill is marked Series 2009 or Series 2009A for the year it was designed (but the new design wasn't circulated to the public until 2013).

   • If the bill is series 2009, then the serial number should begin with J.
   • If the bill is series 2009A, then the serial number should begin with L.
2. 
   2
   Examine the blue security ribbon to see if it's 3-D. Just to the right of Franklin’s portrait is a blue security ribbon. This ribbon is 3-D. Move the bill back and forth and check that you see the number 100 and tiny bells moving from side-to-side as you move the bill.

   • This ribbon is woven into the paper, not pasted on. If you notice the blue ribbon is peeling off the bill, then you have a fake.
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3. 
   3
   Check the inkwell for a color-changing bell. Look for a large copper-colored inkwell to the left of the bill’s serial number. Inside the inkwell is a bell, which should change color from copper to green as you examine the bill from different angles.

   • The "100" numeral beside the inkwell should also change color, just as it does on some older $100 bills.
4. 
   4
   Hold the bill up to an LED or a UV light and check for the embedded thread. An embedded thread runs just to the left of Franklin’s portrait. The letters "USA" and the number 100 alternate along the strip. Both are visible from either side of the note under a regular LED light. If you hold the bill up to UV light, the strip should glow pink.

   • Consider purchasing a counterfeit bill detector with a UV light if you work at a business that handles a lot of bills.
5. 
   5
   Look for Franklin's watermark portrait. Hold the bill under the light. Look for a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the white oval on the right-hand side. This watermark portrait should be visible on both sides of the bill.
6. 
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   Search for microprint with a magnifying glass. Check Benjamin Franklin’s jacket collar. You should see the words "The United States of America" printed in small type. You should also see "USA 100" around the white space that contains the portrait. The words "100 USA" should appear around the quill pen to Franklin's right..
7. 
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   Take note of blurry borders. Real bills should have clear, sharp lines, which are very hard for counterfeiters to reproduce. If you see blurry printing or text, then you are probably dealing with a counterfeit.
8. 
   8
   Feel Franklin’s shoulder for a raised spot. The new $100 bill uses raised printing on Ben Franklin’s shoulder. Run your fingers over the spot. You should be able to feel texture there.
9. 
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   Feel the bill for a slightly rough texture. U.S. paper currency has a distinctive feel. 100-dollar bills are printed on 75% cotton and 25% linen, not real paper, so it feels slightly rough. Also, the ink is slightly raised, which is a feature of the printing process.

   • Using touch is not foolproof, however. The most successful counterfeiters will bleach real money and then print over it.
   • Nevertheless, counterfeiters struggle to reproduce the raised printing, so feeling the bill is a good first step.
10. 
    10
    Mark the bill with a counterfeit money detection pen. This special pen checks for common chemicals used in counterfeits. To use it, mark the $100 bill and check if it turns black or yellow. If it's yellow, that means the bill is made with cotton and could be real. If it's black, it means the bill material is wood pulp-based paper and is fake.
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Section 2 of 3:

Checking Older 100 Dollar Bills (Pre-Series 2009)

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1. 
   1
   Check the series year. The newest $100 bills are marked "Series 2009" for the year they were designed, and they have many different security features. Older bills issued before 2013 have different series years and are being phased out of circulation to prevent counterfeiters from fooling people. Nevertheless, older bills are still legal tender, so if you get one, you shouldn’t automatically assume it's fake. Just make sure it's a series that's actually been issued using the guidelines below:

   • The series years for $100 bills issued from 1996-2013 are 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2003A, 2006, and 2006A.
   • The series years for $100 bills issued from 1990-1996 are 1990 and 1993.
   • Did you know? The average $100 bill has a lifespan of 24 years. By the end of that period, it's usually too torn up and worn to use anymore.
2. 
   2
   Look for the security thread. A $100 bill printed after 1990 should have a security thread on the left-hand side that is only visible when you hold the bill up to the light. The words "USA" and "100" should alternate on the thread. If you hold the bill up to UV light, then the thread glows pink.
3. 
   3
   Check for microprinting. Bills issued before 2013 used microprinting as a security feature. Use a magnifying glass to check for microprinting, which will appear in different spots depending on the year the bill was issued.

   • For $100 bills issued between 1990 and 1996, the words "The United States of America" appear on the outer edge of the portrait oval.
   • For $100 bills issued from 1996-2013, "USA100" should appear in the numeral 100 in the lower left-hand corner. You should also see "The United States of America" on the left lapel of Franklin’s coat.
4. 
   4
   Look for color-shifting ink. $100 bills issued in 1996-2013 use color-shifting ink. Tilt the note in the light and look in the lower right-hand corner. The "100" numeral should change from green to black, then back again.
5. 
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   Find the watermark portrait. Bills printed after 1996 have a watermark portrait of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space at the right-hand side. The image should be very faint but visible from either side.
6. 
   6
   Compare it with an authentic bill from the same year. No special security features were used on $100 bills printed before 1990. Accordingly, an easy way to check a bill's authenticity is to compare it to another, real $100 bill from the same year.

   • Visit the U.S. Currency website to find images of $100 bills older than 2009.
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Section 3 of 3:

Reporting a Counterfeit 100 Dollar Bill

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1. 
   1
   Hold onto a counterfeit bill. If you believe the bill is fake, do not return it to the person who passed it to you. If you're working at a business, call your manager to the front and ask them to look at the bill.
2. 
   2
   Note identifying details of the person who passed it to you. As you wait, note important details about the passer. If possible, write down their age, height, hair color, eye color, weight, and other unique features. If the person drove to your business, try to get their license plate number.

   • Remember that the person giving you the bill might not be the counterfeiter, so don’t think you have to perform a citizen’s arrest or anything. They could have received the bill from someone else without knowing what it was.
3. 
   3
   Initial the bill and store it separately from other bills. Write your initials in the white border surrounding the $100 bill. Then store it in an envelope in your register. Mark the envelope "counterfeit" so that you can find it quickly.
4. 
   4
   Call the police and give them the counterfeit bill. If the person who passed you the bill is still close by, call 911. If they're already gone, call the police at their local phone number. Tell the operator that you were passed a counterfeit $100 bill and give them your location. They'll tell you what to do next. Generally, the police will contact the Secret Service to investigate. When they arrive, hand the bill over to them.
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  What is the purpose of this?

  

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  Someone might pay you with counterfeit money, and when you use that money to buy something, you could get into trouble.

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  What does it mean when clerks mark the $100 bill with a yellow marker?

  

  Community Answer

  They are checking to see if the bill shows black or yellow. Black means it is a fake bill; yellow proves it to be real.

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  What do I do to get reimbursed for a fake one hundred dollar bill?

  

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  You don't get reimbursed, which is why detection of counterfeit bills is so important. Suspect bills are given to the Secret Service; they keep them if they're counterfeit and return those that are real. If the person who passed the counterfeit bill is apprehended, you could file against the perpetrator in small claims court to attempt to reclaim the money.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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