Are Old 100 Dollar Bills Still Valid?

United States currency, regardless of its age or design, maintains its full face value and remains legal tender for payments. The ongoing evolution of currency designs, including the $100 bill, primarily serves to enhance security features and deter counterfeiting. These updates aim to keep pace with advancements in technology that could otherwise aid illicit activities.

Validity and Value of Older Designs

All designs of U.S. currency, including older $100 bills, retain their legal tender status, a policy upheld by the U.S. government for notes issued from 1914 to the present. This means these bills are legally valid for payments and maintain their original face value. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System stand behind the value of all genuine currency, ensuring its continued acceptance.

Key Security Features

To verify the authenticity of an older $100 bill (those issued between 1996 and 2013), several key security features can be examined. Holding the bill to light reveals a faint watermark, a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, located in the blank space to the right of the main portrait. This image should be visible from both sides of the note.

A security thread is embedded vertically to the left of the portrait, which, when held to light, displays the letters “USA” and the numeral “100” in an alternating pattern. This thread also glows pink under ultraviolet light. The numeral “100” in the lower right-hand corner of the bill is printed with color-shifting ink, appearing green when viewed straight on and changing to black when the bill is tilted.

Additionally, older $100 bills incorporate microprinting, including tiny text such as “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” on Franklin’s left lapel and “USA100” within the lower left “100” numeral. These details often require a magnifying glass. The paper contains red and blue security fibers embedded throughout, and the printing has a raised texture.

Exchanging or Using Older Bills

Once the authenticity of an older $100 bill is confirmed, it can be used or exchanged. While most businesses accept older designs, some may hesitate due to unfamiliarity or concerns about counterfeiting, as no federal law compels private businesses to accept specific currency. The most reliable way to exchange or deposit older bills is through a financial institution such as a local bank or credit union.

Financial institutions are equipped to verify currency authenticity and can process deposits or exchange older bills for newer designs. If a business declines to accept an older bill, directing them to a bank where its validity can be confirmed is a practical step. Banks routinely handle older currency and facilitate its return to circulation or replacement by the Federal Reserve.