Five-spot is slang that was used for the five-dollar bill in the 1930s. Click here to check out the new look!Close

Microprinting

Jacob (left) tells Katie and Jonah about Ben Franklin.

The $100 bill has even more special security. It uses microprinting, or letters that are so small that a counterfeiter can't copy them.

The small print is created with tiny lenses that aren't available to ordinary people.

Tiny Lenses

The tiny lenses magnify the microprinting to create optical illusions.

If you move the bill side to side, the image will appear to move up and down. And if you move it up and down, the image appears to move side to side.

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That makes it super hard for someone who wants to create fake $100 bills to make them look real.

Ben Franklin might not be surprised by the neat technology on his $100 bill. Franklin was always ahead of the times.

Franklin: Ahead of the Times

Franklin invented lots of things we use today, including bifocals, which are special glasses that help you see both near and far.

He also invented the odometer, which counts the miles you've traveled when you drive a car or ride a bike.

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They get new looks, too!

The new $5—
Watch the video!

The new designs for the $5 and $100 bills have new symbols, and have new colors. It's just like getting a new set of clothes!

The new $5 bill has a new symbol of freedom on it. It's the Great Seal of the United States, which shows an eagle and shield.

There's some cool new color, Cool New Color

All the new bills have small yellow numbers printed on the front and back. In addition, new:

• $5 bills have light purple in the center, that blends into gray at the edges.
• $10 bills have subtle background colors of orange, yellow and red.
• $20 bills use subtle green and peach background colors.
• $50 bills have subtle blue and red background colors.

Closetoo. The new $5 bill's light purple in the center and has small yellow "5s" to the left of Lincoln's portrait on the front, and to the right of the Lincoln Memorial on the back.

We finally have the opportunity to play with the new $100 bill that's coming soon. The U.S. Government spend more than 10 years figuring out how to make it safe!