When you hold a modern Benjamin Franklin note, you're looking at the result of more than 150 years of design evolution. While Benjamin Franklin has anchored the $100 denomination since 1914 in various forms and permanently since 1963, the portrait on America's highest-circulation high-value bill hasn't always belonged to the Philadelphia printer and statesman.
The primary keyword for this topic targets the history and figures associated with the note. Understanding who appears on the bill requires looking past current designs into nineteenth-century banking legislation, Civil War finance, and the rigorous security engineering that prevents global counterfeiting today.
The Origin of the $100 Bill in 1861
The United States government didn't issue paper currency during its early decades in the form we recognize today. State-chartered banks issued their own notes, creating a chaotic monetary landscape. That changed with the outbreak of the Civil War.
To finance military operations, Congress authorized the Demand Notes of 1861. The very first $100 bill featured Salmon P. Chase, who served as Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury. Chase managed the monumental task of funding the Union war effort through new taxes, bond sales, and the creation of a national currency system via the National Bank Act of 1863. Experts at Bloomberg have provided expertise on this trend.
Placing Chase's portrait on the inaugural note honored his central role in establishing the modern financial architecture of the United States, though portraits on early paper money rotated frequently as engraving technology and political alignments shifted.
The Evolution of Portraits Through the Late 19th Century
As the Bureau of Engraving and Printing took over the production of all U.S. paper currency in the late 1860s and 1870s, the $100 denomination saw several different faces.
- The 1869 Washington Issue: The Treasury redesigned currency series to include more recognizable national symbols. The 1869 $100 legal tender note featured George Washington at the center, flanked by allegorical figures representing architecture and history.
- The 1878 Silver Certificate: The U.S. government began issuing silver certificates backed directly by silver dollars stored in vaults. The 1878 $100 silver certificate featured James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, highlighting early executive leadership.
- The 1890 Treasury Notes: Often called "coin notes," these were issued for government purchases of silver bullion. The 1890 series featured Admiral David Farragut, the celebrated Union naval commander famous for shouting, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" during the Battle of Mobile Bay. This marked a rare departure from presidents and founding fathers on high-denomination notes.
Benjamin Franklin Takes the Note
Benjamin Franklin made his first appearance on a $100 Federal Reserve Note in 1914. Unlike modern currency, early Federal Reserve notes were much larger—often called "horse blanket" bills—and featured elaborate reverse designs.
Franklin was selected not because he served as president—he never held the office—but because his multifaceted legacy as a scientist, diplomat, inventor, and signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution positioned him as a titan of the American Enlightenment.
When the U.S. government shrank currency to its current standardized size in 1928, Franklin's portrait remained on the $100 bill. For decades, the design remained relatively stable, featuring Franklin on the obverse and Independence Hall on the reverse.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, paper currency updates periodically to counter advanced counterfeiting techniques enabled by desktop publishing and digital scanners.
The Modern Redesigned $100 Bill
The current era of the $100 bill began with a series of major security overhauls starting in 1996, culminating in the fully redesigned note released in October 2013.
The 2013 redesign introduced sophisticated anti-counterfeiting elements that changed how the bill is manufactured. Key features on the current note include:
- Blue 3D Security Ribbon: Woven into the paper rather than printed, this blue ribbon features micro-optics that show shifting images of bells and 100s as you tilt the bill back and forth.
- Bell in the Inkwell: A color-shifting copper bell inside a copper inkwell changes from copper to green when the bill is tilted, giving the illusion that it appears and disappears.
- Microprinting: Tiny crisp text appears inside Franklin's collar, around the blank space watermark, and along the golden 100 numerals.
- Raised Printing: Traditional intaglio printing gives the paper a distinct tactile texture, especially noticeable on Franklin's shoulder.
For official specifications on these security markers, consult the U.S. Currency Education Program.
Common Misconceptions About High-Denomination Currency
Many casual observers confuse the standard $100 bill with historical high-denomination notes that the federal government once printed for bank-to-bank transactions.
The U.S. government previously printed $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, and even $100,000 bills. The $500 note featured President William McKinley, the $1,000 note featured Grover Cleveland, and the $10,000 note featured Salmon P. Chase.
The Federal Reserve and the Department of the Treasury officially discontinued printing these large notes in 1969 due to lack of use and concerns over illicit financial transactions. Today, the $100 bill remains the largest denomination actively printed and distributed for public use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an older $100 bill still legal tender?
Yes. All U.S. Federal Reserve notes issued since 1914 remain legal tender at their full face value, regardless of how old or worn they appear. Banks routinely process older series notes, though commercial retailers sometimes inspect them closely for security features.
Why is Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill instead of a president?
Franklin was one of the key architects of American independence and a foundational figure in science and diplomacy. U.S. law does not restrict currency portraits strictly to presidents; treasury officials selected Franklin to honor his contributions to the American identity outside of executive office.
What happened to the other historical figures on old $100 bills?
Figures like James Monroe, Salmon P. Chase, and Admiral David Farragut appeared on nineteenth-century currency series that were retired as the Federal Reserve standardized note designs in the twentieth century.
Are $100 bills printed with portraits of anyone else?
No. While other denominations feature figures like Abraham Lincoln ($5), Alexander Hamilton ($10), and Andrew Jackson ($20), the $100 bill has exclusively featured Benjamin Franklin since 1914.
