It’s all about the (new) Benjamins: A new $100
If you’re at the casino, or the bank, or withdrawing a large amount of money today — you may notice something different with your money.
The U.S. Treasury Department has printed new $100 bills and the Federal Reserve begins distributing it to banks. The new, more secure bills have been in development for a decade and even had to overcome production problems over the past few years. But the bills are ready now.
The bills feature a number of new security features to thwart counterfeiters, including a 3-D security ribbon with images that move in the opposite direction from the way the bill is being tilted, and a disappearing Liberty Bell in an ink well.
Almost $900 billion in $100 bills are in circulation around the globe, used for both legal and illicit purposes. And the $100 bill has become a much more popular and widely-used piece of currency. For instance, in 1990, $100 bills made up roughly 10 percent of all bills in circulation but by last year that figure was closer to 26 percent. At the same time, the value of $100 bills in circulation went from roughly 52 percent of all currency in 1990, to more than three-quarters of the value of all U.S. currency worldwide.
Rest assured, your old, 2-D $100 bills will still be legal tender — and accepted worldwide.
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