Security features of 100-dollar bills of 1996.
Protection features of the 100-dollar bills of the 1996 model
Source:
Bills of 100 US dollars are the most common in Russia, so it is worth looking at them in more detail, especially since the new banknotes of the 1996 model differ significantly from the old-style bills.
Since the end of March 1996, a new $100 banknote has been put into circulation, the general design and predominance of color of which corresponds to the traditional design of American banknotes. Size 156×67. The paper is tinted, has a light yellow tint, contains randomly embedded red and blue security fibers.
The front side of the banknote features an enlarged portrait of Benjamin Franklin, compared to banknotes of previous series, shifted to the left of the center, with the inscription «FRANKLIN» underneath. The back side of the banknote features the Independence Palace, with the inscription «INDEPENDENCE HALL» underneath. The denomination «100» is printed in the corners of the banknote. The inscription «THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA» is printed in the upper central part, with the text «IN GOD WE TRUST» underneath, and the inscription «ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS» at the bottom of the banknote.
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To the left of the portrait is the Federal Reserve Seal (black), above which is a letter and number indicating the Federal Reserve Bank that issued the banknote into circulation.
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To the right of the portrait is the State Treasury Seal in the form of a jagged circle, in the middle of which is a shield with scales and a key and with the inscription in white font around «THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 1789». The Treasury Seal is bright green.
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In the upper left and lower right corners of the banknote is the serial number — a combination of eight digits and three letters. The first letter 
indicates the series number. The second letter is the same as the letter indicating the Federal Reserve Bank. The eight digits indicate the serial number of the banknote in this series. The last letter indicates how many times this number was used in the series. The inscription «FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE» is printed above the top serial number.
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The banknote's denomination is printed in the corners: «100». In the lower left corner is a control letter with the quadrant number. In the lower part to the right of the portrait is a control letter with the cliche number of the front side of the banknote. In the lower part to the left of the portrait is the year of issue: «SERIES 1996».
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The signatures of the heads of the U.S. Treasury and the Department of the Treasury are printed in the lower left and lower right parts of the banknote. The verbal designation of the banknote's denomination is printed on a gilt ornament in the lower right part. The inscription «THE UNITED STATES AMERICA» is printed in the upper right part of the banknote.
Main security features:
Microprinting on the front side of the banknote: the text «USA100» is printed in several rows inside the denomination numeral in the lower left corner, the text «THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA» is printed on the lapel of Benjamin Franklin's frock coat.
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Security strip
A security thread with repeating microtext «USA 100» is embedded in the paper and is visible when held up to the light, and is readable from the front and back of the banknote. The security thread is located vertically, to the left of the portrait. The security thread glows red under ultraviolet light.
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Watermark
The watermark is located on the unprinted field on the right side of the banknote and repeats the portrait of Benjamin Franklin. The mark should be visible from both sides of the banknote.
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Color-changing printing ink
In the lower right corner of the front side there is the denomination of the banknote «100», made with paint that changes color from green to black when the banknote is turned.
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Thin concentric lines
Thin concentric lines form the background for the portrait on the front side and for the Palace of Independence on the back side of the banknote. On the copy, when reproducing the banknote on reprographic equipment, a slight moire (dark and light areas) appears in the indicated places.
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The front side of the banknote is made using a metallographic printing method. The inscriptions «THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS» have an increased thickness of the paint layer and are well perceived by touch. The serial number, seals of the Federal Reserve System and the State Treasury are made by the letterpress printing method. The back side of the banknote is made by the metallographic printing method.