Despite the $100 dollar bill being an iconic piece of history, you may have thought to yourself – who is on the $100 dollar bill?

The $100 dollar bill features a distinguished portrait of Benjamin Franklin – statesman, scientist, inventor, and writer – a figure whose influence played a great role in shaping American History.

Unlike many other figures that feature on United States Notes, such as Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin’s portrait was the first non-President to be featured on a legal tender.

Despite never being a President of the United States, Franklin made vast contributions to governance, diplomacy, and innovation, all of which helped him to secure his place on the highest demonisation of United States notes in general circulation.

But why was Benjamin Franklin chosen? Who appeared on the 100 dollar bill before him? What makes his federal reserve notes unique?

Let’s take a deep dive into the history, the current design, advanced security features and broader significance of the 100 dollar bill.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was a polymath whose incredible impact stretched across politics, science, literature and public service.

He played an instrumental role in drafting the Declaration of Independence (1776) and negotiating the Treaty of Paris (1783), which helped to end the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).

Benjamin Franklin’s scientific discoveries truly revolutionised the field, and his inventions, including the lightning rod (1752), bifocal glasses (1784), and the Franklin stove (1742), continue to demonstrate his ingenuity and intelligence.

He also founded civic institutions such as America’s first public library (1731) and the U.S. Postal Service (1775).

Similarly, his writings, including Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732), reflect his wisdom, shaping the ideals of self-reliance that define the American ethos.

Benjamin Franklin’s portrait was chosen for the $100 bill because of his enduring contributions and commitment to American history and its identity.

His work as a diplomat helped secure France’s support during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), a critical alliance that tipped the war in America’s favour.

His technological advancements and his role in shaping democratic principles made him a national icon.

Unlike other figures on US currency, the portrait of Benjamin Franklin represents his intellect and diplomacy rather than political authority, making his presence on the 100-dollar bill particularly fitting.

Before the portrait of Benjamin Franklin graced the $100 dollar bill, several other key figures held the prime coveted position.

The earliest $100 notes were issued during the American Civil War (1861-1865) as part of the first federal paper currency. These early bills of circulating federal reserve currency, known as Demand Notes, lacked a central figure and were primarily used to fund the Union War effort.

Salmon P. Chase was Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of the Treasury and played a pivotal role in creating the National Banking System (1863), as well as the introduction of a uniform national currency.

Thomas H. Benton was a long-serving US Senator from Missouri and an ongoing advocate for hard currency (gold and silver) over paper money. He opposed the use of bank-issued notes as he feared they would lead to economic instability.

Admiral David Farragut was a naval officer of the Civil War (1861-1865), best remembered for his command at the Battle of Mobile Bay (1864), where he famously declared, ‘Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!’. Farragut was the first full admiral in US Naval history and his image on the $100 bill reflected his status as a symbol of military courage and national unity.

Unlike most other circulating currency in the US, the 100 dollar bill breaks the tradition of featuring an image of a former President, like George Washington.

Benjamin Franklin’s selection recognises his role as a founding father and nation-builder without having held political office.

While American currency typically honours Presidents for their leadership within government, Franklin’s legacy extends far beyond political power. His contributions to science, diplomacy, education, and public service make him unique among the figures featured on American banknotes.

His selection for the $100 bill underscores the importance of intellect, ingenuity and pragmatism in American identity.

The federal reserve notes were given a new design in 2013 – the new $100 bill featured several advanced security features to prevent counterfeiting.

The blue 3D security ribbon has 3D embedded in the centre of the note, including bells and numbers that shift when being moved at different angles.

When holding the latest version of the 100 dollar bill up to the light, a secondary faint image of Benjamin Franklin appears on the right side.

Special ink is used on the lower right corner of the $100 bill, which changes from copper to green when the bill is being tilted – another of the new security features used to combat counterfeiting.

There is a pink micro-printed security thread embedded vertically across the banknote, running from top to bottom.

The intaglio printing technique adds increased texture to the 100 dollar bill – notably Franklin’s portrait, the Declaration of Independence text, and the numeral ‘100’ – to deter counterfeiting as it is harder to replicate.

A large gold ‘100’ numeral is printed on the lower right corner to help those with visual impairments distinguish the domination of the currency.

Microscopic text is printed surrounding Benjamin Franklin’s collar and other areas on the note. This text is only visible when using a magnifying glass.

The back of the $100 bill features a portion of the manuscript of the Declaration of Independence, and elements of the American Flag are incorporated into the front design.

The physical paper of the $100 bill contains small red and blue ribbon fibres that are interspersed throughout. They are not part of the design but are incorporated into the paper during its design.

• As of 2012, the $100 bill accounts for approximately 77% of all US currency in circulation.
• The nickname “c-note” comes from the Roman Numeral for 100 (C) on earlier versions of the bill.
• It is the most commonly held US banknote outside the United States, as it serves as an international store of value.
• The bill features Independence Hall, where Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence, rather than the White House, which appears on other major US banknotes.
• Franklin’s famous kite experiment with electricity is subtly referenced in the bill’s security features, as blue security ribbons mimic lightning streaks.

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As high-value banknotes and large denomination bills like the $100 bill continue to circulate widely, secure and efficient cash handling is more critical than ever.

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