Plugged-In Bills

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The new bills have a few special effects that you can check out at home—even without a magnifying glass—to make sure they're real. For example, the new $5 has: The new bills use technology to prevent counterfeiting.

The new bills use technology to prevent counterfeiting.

Check out the security on the technology in your pockets.

Two new watermarks. Watermarks are part of the paper—not just printed on top—and can be seen from both sides of the bill.
Enhanced security thread. When you hold up the new $5 bill to an ultraviolet light, you'll see a thin glowing blue thread.
New color. Light purple in the center blends into grey at the edges.

The new $5 bill has something else new for good looks—a symbol of freedom on the back: the Great Seal of the United States featuring an American bald eagle and a shield.

Franklin's inventiveness is in the $100 bill

'I've never seen a $100 bill, just a picture of one.'--Conner

"There's nothing like the smell of new money!"
—Conner, age 11

The new $100 bill is so special the government has posted an "unveiling" video. You can see it here!

Word on the street is that the new security thread in it is something you might expect from Hogwarts School and Harry Potter. But it's not magic, it's technology at work.

The new $100 bill uses microprinting with tiny lenses. These 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 by side.

What animal is pictured on the new $5 bill as a symbol of freedom?

Meercat

Bald eagle

Owl

Cheetah

It's not surprising that Benjamin Franklin's on what's expected to be the most fabulous technological development in paper money—tiny lenses.

The man who invented bifocal lenses also printed currency that was pretty advanced—in those days, it was hard to copy and pass off as real money.

True or False: Andrew Jackson was the first President to be born west of the Appalachian Mountains. Click Andrew's head for the answer.

FALSE: He was born in Waxhaw, South Carolina on March 15, 1767. Waxhaw is now part of North Carolina, and is surrounded by the Appalacian's.

contributed by

Lori

DePere, WI

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"Cool money. I like the color, makes the bill more unique. I bet cashiers will be able to scan a bill over ultra-violet light to make sure the bill is real, but I also liked how the author explained what the features on the bill were! "

dino_lex, TX, Age 11
04/30/09

"Cool money. I like the color, makes the bill more unique. I bet cashiers will be able to scan a bill over ultra-violet light to make sure the bill is real. Oooohhhh... technologyyyy..."