Can $100 bills be blue?

Yes, genuine U.S. $100 bills can appear to have a blue tint, particularly in the redesigned series (Series 2009 and later) which features a distinct blue 3-D security ribbon woven into the paper. The portrait of Benjamin Franklin also has a subtle blue tint, and the bill is often referred to as a "blue face".

What is a blue $100 bill?

3-D Security Ribbon The 2004 style $100 FRN features a blue ribbon woven into the paper. When you tilt the note back and forth, the bells and “100”s move side to side. If you tilt the note side to side, they move up and down.

Are 100 dollar bills supposed to have a blue line?

Yes, all modern $100 bills feature a distinct blue security ribbon woven into the paper, which gives them the nickname "blue strips," but older versions (pre-1990) lack this specific ribbon, though all U.S. currency has tiny embedded red and blue fibers; the newer, prominent blue ribbon is a key anti-counterfeiting feature. 

Do fake $100 bills have a blue stripe?

All U.S. bills have tiny red and blue fibers embedded in the paper. Counterfeiters sometimes try to reproduce these by printing or drawing these fibers onto the paper, but close inspection reveals, however, that on the counterfeit note you will see that they are printed on, rather than being part of the paper itself.

How to tell a counterfeit $100 note?

To check security features on bank notes:

1. Hold up to the light to see a seven-pointed star and the Australian Coat of Arms.
2. Tilt to see the bird's wings move and change colour, and the number change direction.
3. Check a clear window is part of the banknote.
4. Tilt to see a rolling colour effect.

How to Tell if a $100 Bill is REAL or FAKE

What is blue bill money?

"Blue bills" can mean actual dyed U.S. dollar bills promoting environmentalism, Philippine 1,000 peso notes given at debuts for good fortune, slang for $100 bills (often featuring Benjamin Franklin), or historically, a vigilante group against "White Caps" in Tennessee, but most commonly, it refers to the cultural trend of gifting large Philippine peso bills at events. 

What do you do if you get a fake $100 bill?

Contact the Authorities: If you come across a counterfeit bill, contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Secret Service. The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for investigating and preventing the circulation of counterfeit currency. You can report the incident online or in person.

When did $100 bills start having blue stripes?

The Series 2009 $100 bill redesign was unveiled on April 21, 2010, and was issued to the public on October 8, 2013. The new bill costs 12.6 cents to produce and has a blue ribbon woven into the center of the currency with "100" and Liberty Bells, alternating, that appear when the bill is tilted.

What's the rarest $100 bill?

The rarest $100 bills aren't modern Benjamins but historic issues like the 1863 $100 Gold Certificate (only three known) and the 1878 $100 Silver Certificate (four known), which can fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions, while other rare types include "Watermelon" notes (1890 Treasury Notes) and error notes (misalignments, star notes, upside-down serials) on older bills, with value depending heavily on age, series, condition, and unique features. 

What does a blue seal mean on money?

A blue seal on U.S. money, specifically on older bills like Silver Certificates, means the note was backed by actual silver and could be redeemed for its face value in silver from the Treasury; these notes featured a distinctive blue seal and blue serial numbers, unlike today's green Federal Reserve Notes, and while they're still legal tender, they aren't redeemable for silver anymore.
 

What is a blue hundred dollar bill?

The blue strip on the modern $100 bill is the 3-D Security Ribbon, a key anti-counterfeiting feature woven into the paper, not printed on it, with tiny bells and "100s" that appear to move when tilted, changing between images to show authenticity. This complex ribbon uses microscopic lenses to create a holographic effect, making it very difficult for counterfeiters to replicate and a core part of the bill's security, alongside other elements like a security thread that glows pink under UV light and a watermark of Benjamin Franklin.
 

How to tell if a $100 bill is real with a toothpick?

The $100 bill toothpick test is a quick way to spot fakes: gently try to slide a toothpick underneath the blue security ribbon on the front of the bill; if it's a genuine bill, the toothpick will slide between the layers, but on a counterfeit, it won't go through because the ribbon is printed onto the paper. This trick works because real currency has distinct layers, while fake bills are just printed on single-layer paper, making the ribbon feel solid.
 

What does a new $100 bill look like?

The $100 note has a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, and it contains a 3-D security ribbon and color-shifting bell in the inkwell. Learn more about the banknote here: https://go.uscurrency.gov/3oz.

What happens if you accept a fake $100 bill at work?

I will say this, if you accept a fake bill you are not required to pay the money back to the business, absolutely not. They should have provided a pen to begin with to check bills. Otherwise, you could contact the state labor board in the near future for wage penalties.

How common are fake $100 bills?

Novel Banknote Security Features Help Drive Decrease

This means encountering a counterfeit $100 is extremely rare – on the order of less than 8 PPM​.

Do banks refund scammed money?

Yes, banks often refund scammed money, but it depends heavily on the payment method and how quickly you report it; you're more likely to get money back for unauthorized transactions (like stolen card details) than authorized payments (where you sent money to a scammer yourself), though prompt reporting and strong evidence improve your chances in all cases. Banks must investigate and often provide provisional credit for debit/credit card fraud, but for wire transfers or gift cards where you authorized payment, refunds are harder and depend on bank policies. 

How to spot a fake blue $100 bill?

3-D Security Ribbon

Tilt the note back and forth while focusing on the blue ribbon. You will see the bells change to 100s as they move. When you tilt the note back and forth, the bells and 100s move side to side. If you tilt it side to side, they move up and down.

What do blue bills mean?

"Blue bills" can mean actual dyed U.S. dollar bills promoting environmentalism, Philippine 1,000 peso notes given at debuts for good fortune, slang for $100 bills (often featuring Benjamin Franklin), or historically, a vigilante group against "White Caps" in Tennessee, but most commonly, it refers to the cultural trend of gifting large Philippine peso bills at events. 

What should the texture of a real $100 bill feel like?

Feel. “Run your fingers over the note to make sure it feels like real currency,” Barker said. “Real currency has intaglio ink, which is that raised, thick, tar-like ink. If you run your fingers over it, it has a texture to it.”

What do I do if I have a fake $100 bill?

Reporting Suspected Counterfeit Currency

If you are an individual, submit suspected counterfeit currency to your local police department. Your local bank may also assist in identifying counterfeit currency. Police departments, banks, and cash processors will submit suspected counterfeit currency to the Secret Service.

How to tell a counterfeit $100 bill with a pen?

A counterfeit pen reacts to the starch found in most types of paper. Genuine U.S. currency is printed on paper that does not have starch. Therefore, if the bill is genuine, the ink will turn yellow and if it’s fake, the ink will turn black or dark blue.