DOLLARS IN DETAIL - U.S. Currency

DOLLARS IN DETAILYOUR GUIDE TO U.S. CURRENCYuscurrency.gov

The Federal Reserve Board issues 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 notes.The U.S. government periodicallyredesigns Federal Reserve notes to makethem easier to use but more difficult tocounterfeit. The current style of notes isshown in this brochure.Not FeaturedFeaturedHow to Check U.S. Currency:Open the page on this side to learn more.

Authenticate U.S. Currency: Feel, Tilt, CheckTo check the security features in U.S. currency, feel the paper, tilt the note, and check with light and with magnification.Feelthe paperMove your finger across the note. It shouldfeel slightly rough to the touch as a result ofthe intaglio printing process and the uniquecomposition of the paper. U.S. currency paperis a blend of 75 percent cotton and 25percent linen.Tiltthe noteColor-shifting ink. Tilt the note to see the inkin the numbers on the lower right cornerchange color from copper to green ondenominations of 10 and higher. The Bell inthe Inkwell on the 100 note also changesfrom copper to green.3-D Security Ribbon. The 100 note featuresa blue 3-D Security Ribbon with images ofbells and 100s. When you tilt the note backand forth, the bells and 100s in the ribbonmove from side to side. When you tilt the notefrom side to side, the bells and 100s move upand down. The 3-D Security Ribbon is woveninto the paper, not printed on it.Checkwith lightSecurity thread. Hold the note to light to seea security thread embedded vertically ondenominations 5 and higher. The thread isembedded in a different position for eachdenomination and glows a different colorwhen held to ultraviolet (UV) light. Thesecurity thread is visible from both sides ofthe note.Watermark. Hold the note to light to see afaint image to the right of the portrait ondenominations 5 and higher. Watermarksare visible from both sides of the note. Ondenominations 10 and higher, thewatermark matches the portrait. The 5 notehas two watermarks, both of the numeral 5.Check withmagnificationMicroprinting. Microprinting is featured inseveral locations on denominations 5 andhigher and can aid in authentication. Thesesmall printed words, which may requiremagnification to see, should be clear.Microprinting corresponds to thedenomination or contains phrases such as“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “USA,” or“E PLURIBUS UNUM.”Red and blue fibers. The paper in genuineU.S. currency has small red and blue securityfibers embedded throughout.

Federal Reserve Note IdentifiersEach Federal Reserve note includes identifiers. Federal Reserve identifiers serve a variety ofpurposes, like designating when a note was printed and which plate was used to print the note.123Serial number. Each note has a uniqueserial number. The first letter of the serialnumber corresponds to the series year.E 2004L 2009AG 2004AM 2013I 2006N 2017J 2009P 2017AFederal Reserve indicators. Each notehas a letter and number designation thatcorresponds to one of the 12 FederalReserve Banks (such as A1 Boston,B2 New York). The letter of each FederalReserve indicator matches the secondletter of the serial number on the note.Face and back plate number. The faceplate and back plate numbers identify thespecific printing plates used to print theface and back of the note. The face platenumber is found on the face of the noteand the back plate number is found onthe back of the note. (Back plate numbernot shown.)4Series year. The series year indicates theyear in which a new design was approvedby the Secretary of the Treasury, or theyear in which the signature of a newsecretary was incorporated into thedesign.Capital letters following the series yearappear when there is a significant changein the note's appearance, change to thesignatures of the Secretary of theTreasury or the Treasurer, or when therehas been a significant gap in productiontimes for a note.5Note position letter and number. Thenote position letter and number indicatein which position on a plate a note wasprinted. It is a combination of one letterand one number and can be found on thefront of the note.For more information on note identifiers, visit uscurrency.gov

100 Note, Issued in 2013 50 Note, Issued in Raised printing3-D Security RibbonColor-shiftingBell in the InkwellColor-shiftingnumeralRaised printingColor-shifting numeralCheck with lightCheck with magnificationCheck with lightCheck with magnificationEEFGCCDESecurity threadUV security threadWatermark ofBenjamin FranklinMicroprintingSecurity threadUV security threadWatermark ofUlysses S. GrantMicroprinting

20 Note, Issued in 2003 10 Note, Issued in ed printingColor-shifting numeralRaised printingColor-shifting numeralCheck with lightCheck with magnificationCheck with lightCheck with magnificationCCDSecurity threadUV security threadWatermark ofAndrew JacksonEMicroprintingCCDESecurity threadUV security threadWatermark ofAlexander HamiltonMicroprinting

5 Note, Issued in 200812ECDB153A4FeelCheck with magnificationABRaised printingMicroprintingCheck with lightCCDESecurity threadUV security threadWatermark ofnumeral 5Watermark ofnumeral 5s

Counterfeit ReportingDo you know what to do with suspect counterfeits?Become familiar with your organization’scounterfeit-reporting procedures and learn what to do ifyou suspect you have a counterfeit note. This mayinclude notifying your manager, contacting local lawenforcement, or contacting the appropriate office of theUnited States Secret Service.uscurrency.govItem #806 · 2018

Federal Reserve Note Identifiers Each Federal Reserve note includes identifiers. Federal Reserve identifiers serve a variety of purposes, like designating when a note was printed and which plate was used to print the note. For more information on note identifiers, visit . uscurrency.gov