2004 style Federal Reserve notes (FRNs) incorporate
background colors and large, borderless portrait images.

658

2004 style $100 note issued October, 2013

17Watermark

Paper U.S. currency paper consists of 25% linen and 75%
cotton and contains small randomly disbursed red and blue
security fibers embedded throughout the paper.
Portrait The 2004 style FRNs have an enlarged and off-center
portrait without a frame.

1 Watermark The 2004 style FRNs have a watermark that isvisible from either side when held to light.

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2 Color-Shifting Ink The 2004 style $10, $20, $50 and $100

FRNs have color-shifting ink that shifts from copper to green as
the note is tilted 45 degrees. The 2004 style $100 FRN has acolor- shifting “Bell in the Inkwell”. The $5 FRN does not havecolor-shifting ink.

3 Security Thread All genuine FRNs, except the $1 and $2,Under a UV
3light source,
the security thread glows light red/pink.

7642Copper to green
color-shifting ink

9 525 2004 style $50 note issued October, 200418Watermark

have a clear thread embedded vertically in the paper. The
thread is inscribed with the denomination of the note andis visible only when held to light. Each denomination has aunique thread position and glows a different color when held toultraviolet (UV) light.

4 3-D Security Ribbon The 2004 style $100 FRN features ablue ribbon woven into the paper. When you tilt the note backand forth, the bells and “100”s move side to side. If you tilt thenote side to side, they move up and down.

5 Serial Numbers The first letter of the serial number on FRNs
of series year 1996 or later corresponds to the series year.
E = 2004
I = 2006
L = 2009A
G = 2004A
J = 2009

Under a UV
9light source,
the security thread glows yellow.

53Copper to green
color-shifting ink

2Bank Indicators

6 Federal Reserve Indicators The 2004 style FRNs have a

6512004 style $20 note issued October, 2003

letter and number designation, which identifies one of the 12
distributing Federal Reserve Banks. This letter and number
designation appears beneath the serial number on the left.
The number corresponds to the position of the letter in thealphabet, e.g.: A1, B2, C3, etc. The letter matches the second
prefix letter in the serial number.

8Watermark

7 Note Position Letter and Number
8 Face Plate Number
9 Series Year
10 Back Plate Number (Not shown) Found on the bottom righthand corner of the back of the note.

Under a UV
7 3light source, thesecurity thread glows green.

952

Copper to green
color-shifting ink

2004 style Federal Reserve notes (FRNs) incorporate
background colors and large, borderless portrait images.
Paper U.S. currency paper consists of 25% linen and 75%
cotton and contains small randomly disbursed red and blue
security fibers embedded throughout the paper.

2004 style $10 note issued March, 2006

5681Watermark

2Copper to green
color-shifting ink

1Watermarks

Portrait The 2004 style FRNs have an enlarged and off-center
portrait without a frame.

1 Watermark The 2004 style FRNs have a watermark that isvisible from either side when held to light.

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www.secretservice.gov

Know Your Money

2 Color-Shifting Ink The 2004 style $10, $20, $50 and $100

FRNs have color-shifting ink that shifts from copper to green as
the note is tilted 45 degrees. The 2004 style $100 FRN has acolor- shifting “Bell in the Inkwell”. The $5 FRN does not havecolor-shifting ink.

3 Security Thread All genuine FRNs, except the $1 and $2,

have a clear thread embedded vertically in the paper. Thethread is inscribed with the denomination of the note andis visible only when held to light. Each denomination has aunique thread position and glows a different color when held toultraviolet (UV) light.

4 3-D Security Ribbon The 2004 style $100 FRN features ablue ribbon woven into the paper. When you tilt the note backand forth, the bells and “100”s move side to side. If you tilt thenote side to side, they move up and down.

Under a UV
7 9light source,
the security
thread glows orange.

352004 style $5 note issued March, 2008

561

3

5 Serial Numbers The first letter of the serial number on FRNs
of series year 1996 or later corresponds to the series year.
E = 2004
I = 2006
L = 2009A
G = 2004AJ = 2009Bank Indicators

6 Federal Reserve Indicators The 2004 style FRNs have aletter and number designation, which identifies one of the 12
distributing Federal Reserve Banks. This letter and number
designation appears beneath the serial number on the left.
The number corresponds to the position of the letter in thealphabet, e.g.: A1, B2, C3, etc. The letter matches the second
prefix letter in the serial number.

7 Note Position Letter and Number
8 Face Plate Number
9 Series Year
10 Back Plate Number (Not shown) Found on the bottom righthand corner of the back of the note.

Under a UV lightsource, the security
thread glows blue.

7958

The $5 FRN does nothave color-shifting ink.

Know Your Money																		Security
Other		Portrait
WatermarkThreadMicroprinting
Microprinting

Color-Shifting
Ink in Front
Lower Right
Numeral

2004
Style
100
FranklinFranklin
Left of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along Franklin’s“ONE HUNDRED USA” along the golden
Copper to Green					collar; small “100” in the note’s vertical borders; “USA”
quill; “USA 100” around the blank space
Also appears in the					along bottom of Franklin’s portrait
containing the portrait watermark
bell in the inkwell
50
Grant
Grant
Right of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along Grant’s collar“50”, “USA” and “FIFTY” in two blue
Copper to Green						stars to the left of the portrait; “FIFTY”						along side borders			
20
JacksonJacksonLeft of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 20 USA” in the“USA20” borders beginning part of text
Copper to Green					border below Treasurer’s signatureribbon “USA TWENTY”, right of portrait			
10Hamilton
Hamilton
Right of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” below portrait“USA10” beneath torch to the left of
Copper to Green						the portrait; “TEN DOLLARS” along						side borders		
5Lincoln
Left: vertical
Right of portrait“E Pluribus Unum” at top of eagle’s shield to the right of
On back, “USA FIVE” on edge ofNone			“5 5 5”;		
the portrait; “USA” between columns of eagle’s shield;
purple 5.			
Right: large		
“FIVE DOLLARS” along side borders.			
“5”				

1996
Style
100
FranklinFranklin
Left of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along Franklin’s collar“USA100” in lower left numeral
Green to Black								50Grant
Grant
Right of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along Grant’s collar“FIFTY” along side borders
Green to Black								20JacksonJackson
Left of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in the lower oval
“USA20” in lower left numeral
Green to Black					framing of portrait			10
Hamilton
Hamilton
Right of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” below portrait above“TEN” in lower left numeral
Green to Black					Hamilton’s name			5
Lincoln
Lincoln
Left of portrait“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in the lower oval
“FIVE DOLLARS” along side borders
None					framing of portrait

All Federal Reserve Notes are printed on paper featuring
red and blue embedded fibers.

Federal Reserve Notes designed before 1990 do notcontain security threads or microprinting.

www.uscurrency.gov
www.secretservice.gov
April 2016