How to Check a US Dollar Note: Security Features Worth Knowing

The United States redesigns its banknotes from time to time to stay ahead of counterfeiters, and every modern note carries several security features that anyone can check in a few seconds. You do not need special equipment. You need good light and a moment of attention.

The guidance below follows the U.S. Currency Education Program, which publishes official, detailed information at uscurrency.gov (opens in a new tab). It focuses on the current designs of the $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes.

Feel it

Genuine notes are printed on a cotton and linen paper that feels distinctly different from ordinary paper. The printing is raised, and you can often feel it with a fingertip. On the $100 note, run your finger along Benjamin Franklin's shoulder: it should feel slightly rough. A note that feels unusually smooth, waxy or flimsy deserves a closer look.

Tilt it

• Colour-shifting ink. On the $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes, the numeral in the lower right corner of the front changes from copper to green as you tilt the note.

• The 3-D security ribbon ($100). A blue ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on it. Tilt the note back and forth and the bells on the ribbon change to 100s; they move as you tilt.

• The bell in the inkwell ($100). The copper-coloured inkwell on the front contains a bell that also shifts from copper to green.

Hold it up to the light

• Watermark. A faint image visible from both sides of the note. On the $10, $20, $50 and $100, it matches the portrait on the note. On the $5, look for a large numeral 5.

• Security thread. A thin strip embedded in the paper, running from top to bottom, printed with the letters USA and the note's value. Its position differs by denomination.

Under ultraviolet light, the security thread glows a different colour on each note: blue on the $5, orange on the $10, green on the $20, yellow on the $50 and pink on the $100.

Look closely

Genuine notes include microprinting: tiny words and numbers in places such as around the portrait and along the borders. With a magnifying glass they should be sharp and clear. On counterfeits, fine detail is often blurred, broken or smudged.

Check more than one feature

A good counterfeit may copy one feature convincingly, but copying all of them is far harder. Always check at least two or three, and when in doubt compare the note with one you know to be genuine of the same value and design.

A note about older designs

According to the U.S. Currency Education Program, US notes issued since 1861 remain legal tender in the United States at full face value. Outside the United States, however, dealers may treat older series, or notes that are torn, marked or heavily worn, differently. If you hold older or damaged notes, ask in advance whether they are accepted and on what terms before you bring them in.

Feel, tilt, look. Ten seconds of attention is the best protection against a counterfeit note.

If you suspect a note is counterfeit

Do not try to pass it on to someone else. Keep it separate from your other money, note where you received it and report it to the appropriate authorities. If you are unsure about a note before an exchange, raise it openly. A reputable dealer will check it with you.

Have a question about currency you hold? Contact our team and we will be glad to help.