From 1929 to the 1990’s the government kept the U.S. currency practically the same without any huge changes. After 6 decades of never changing its look the U.S. currency has gone through many makeovers. However, the best is yet to come.

The Bureau of Engraving and printing now plans on creating a redesign every 7-10 years to stay ahead of the counterfeiters. A new security thread has been created and approved for the $100 bill. This new look will hopefully delay and help stop counterfeiters who have sophisticated computers, scanners, and color copiers in the technology age. Benjamin Franklin, also the $100 note, is the biggest target for counterfeit operations outside of the United States. This new $100 bill is suppose to turn heads, cause double takes, and may even look like something out of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The new bill with be printed with micro printing with tiny lenses over 650,000 for a single $100 bill. When you move the bill side to side the image will appear as if it is moving up and down. Move the bill up and down, and the image appears to move side to side.

Douglas Crane, VP at Crane & Co. has a $46 million contract to produce the new security threads. He said:

“It is really complex optical structure on a microscopic scale. It makes for a very compelling high security device.”

If you didn’t know, the $100 bill represents more than 70% of the $776 billion in currency in circulation, and 2/3 is held overseas.

In 2006 the government said that about $118.1 million in counterfeit U.S. currency was detected, which was a 3.8% increase from 2005. Counterfeiting has become highly organized and efficient. Printing plants in Latin America and Eastern Europe have been caught counterfeiting not only the U.S. currency but other countries’ notes as well.

If you plan on getting your hands on the $100 bill, don’t get to antsy just yet. The redesign is only about one-third the way complete and won’t be expected to go into circulation till late next year.

Tags: Business, 100, Government, Counterfeit, U.S. Currency

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