The World's Most Counterfeited Currency
The US dollar is the world's primary reserve currency and the most widely used banknote globally — which also makes it the most frequently targeted by counterfeiters. The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and the Federal Reserve have incorporated multiple layers of security features into modern Federal Reserve Notes, particularly since the major redesign series beginning in the 1990s.
This guide covers the security features of current-series US banknotes, focusing on the most commonly counterfeited denominations.
The $100 Note (Benjamin Franklin)
The $100 note received the most comprehensive security overhaul and contains the most advanced features:
- 3-D Security Ribbon: A blue ribbon woven into the paper (not printed) that shows images of bells and "100"s that shift as you tilt the note. This is an advanced OVD feature.
- Bell in the Inkwell: A color-shifting bell inside a copper inkwell on the front — the bell appears to disappear and reappear as you tilt the note.
- Color-Shifting Ink (Numeral 100): The large numeral "100" in the lower right corner shifts from copper to green when tilted.
- Portrait Watermark: Hold to light to see a faint portrait of Franklin on the right side of the note.
- Security Thread: An embedded pink strip running vertically that reads "USA 100" and glows pink under UV light.
- Microprinting: "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" appears on Franklin's collar; "USA 100" on the security thread.
- Raised printing: Feel the tactile texture on Franklin's jacket, the Federal Reserve indicators, and the note's title.
The $50 Note (Ulysses S. Grant)
- Color-Shifting Ink: The numeral "50" shifts from copper to green when tilted.
- Security Thread: Embedded strip reads "USA 50" and glows yellow under UV light.
- Watermark: A faint "50" and portrait of Grant visible when held to light.
- Microprinting: "FIFTY" and "USA" appear in small text on the note.
The $20 Note (Andrew Jackson)
- Color-Shifting Ink: The numeral "20" in the lower right shifts from copper to green.
- Security Thread: Reads "USA TWENTY" and glows green under UV.
- Watermark: A faint numeral "20" and a portrait to the right of Jackson visible in transmitted light.
- Microprinting: "USA20" appears in the lower left corner of the note's face.
Lower Denominations ($10, $5, $1)
The $10 note features a security thread that glows orange under UV; the $5 glows blue. The $1 and $2 notes do not have color-shifting ink or a security thread, which is why they are easier to alter or replicate. A common scam involves bleaching $1 notes and reprinting them as $100s — a process detectable by the security thread denomination mismatch and the paper's original denomination feel.
UV Thread Color Quick Reference
| Denomination | UV Thread Color |
|---|---|
| $100 | Pink |
| $50 | Yellow |
| $20 | Green |
| $10 | Orange |
| $5 | Blue |
Common US Dollar Counterfeiting Methods
Understanding how counterfeiters work helps you know what to look for:
- Inkjet/Laser printing: The most common method. Easy to spot by the flat texture, wrong paper feel, and missing security thread.
- Bleached and reprinted notes: Genuine low-denomination paper is chemically bleached, then reprinted at a higher denomination. The paper passes the pen test but the security thread will show the wrong denomination under UV.
- Cut-and-paste corners: Corners from higher-denomination notes are glued onto lower-denomination notes. Check that all four corners and the serial numbers are consistent.
When in doubt, compare the suspicious note side-by-side with a known genuine note of the same denomination and series year. Differences become immediately apparent.