If you sell merchandise for cash then it's important that you know how to verify a 100 dollar bill. In this article we'll go over counterfeit money detectors and also how to use the eye test.

If you have antique coins or paper money from the Confederacy or any other time period, you can consult printed manuals that will tell you the approximate price for the money based on its year, condition and other facts like where it was printed or minted. You can search for books covering the types of currency you have in a bookstore or online. If it is worth more than face value, like certain coins, you can go to any Pawn Shop that deals in coins. If it is old paper currency, and only worth face value, you can take it. No paper use the real money. Fives work real good when u print a new fifty on them. How do u remove the ink? Degreaser and a microwave. Stick them in for five minutes take out and rub real lightly under hot water u will have clean five dollar bills. The water mark of lincoln almost looks like the watermark of grant. Only print fifties no hundreds or anything else. Ha i never told u how to. Let us know if you have a paper money collection you want to sell. 1928 $500 Federal Reserve Note Extremely Fine You can start to see a difference in quality once the grade gets into Extremely Fine (XF). $500 bills that are XF, numerically 40 or 45, typically have at least two to three heavy folds, one of which may be horizontal.

Counterfeit Money Detectors

The easiest way to find out if a bill is real or not is to use a counterfeit money detector. These products will automatically tell if you have a real bill or a fake.

Counterfeit detector pens are the most affordable money detector products. These small devices retail for less than 10 dollars. But don't let the price deceive you, these pens are effective and many people swear by them.

There are more advanced money detectors that scan the entire bill. Most of these money detectors retail for around $50-100. If you run a business then it may be wise to invest in one of these products.

Note that most of these products are not always 100% accurate. This is why it's also recommended that you use the eye test in addition to using a money detector.

Eye Test

When doing the eye test, you'll need to verify that the bill looks authentic and that all the security features are present. The verification process is quick and simple once you know what to look for.

1. Verify the Watermark

When you hold the bill up at an angle, you should see a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the right side of the bill where the clear section is. The watermark was first added to the $100 bill in 1996.

2. Verify the Color-Changing Ink

Color-changing ink can be found on the obverse side of the bill in two different locations- on the liberty bell and on the numeral '100' located on the lower right corner. When you hold the bill up at an angle, the color should change from copper to green. Color-changing ink was first added to the $100 bill in 1996.

3. Verify the 3D Security Ribbon

The 3D security ribbon is the vertical blue ribbon that can be found on the obverse side of the bill. When you look closely, you should see small numeral 100s and liberty bells inside the ribbon. When you tilt the ribbon, the numbers and liberty bells should shift sideways. The 3D security ribbon was added in 2013.

4. Verify the Security Thread

The vertical security thread can be seen when you hold the bill up at an angle. The number 100 and the abbreviation USA can be seen multiple times on the security thread. It's also possible to spot the security thread under a UV black light. The security thread was first added to the $100 bill in 1990.

5. Examine the Microprinting

There are tiny words printed on the bill in a few different locations. In order to see the microprinting you may need a magnifying glass. On the modern series bills, the microprinting can be found on Franklin's collar, the bottom of Franklin's portrait, and to the right of the brown quill. Microprinting was first added to the $100 bill in 1990.

Conclusion

How To Tell If Old Paper Money Is Real Value

If you use a counterfeit money detector and/or use the eye test, then you should be able to accurately determine whether or not your bill is real. We recommend buying a money detector to give you more peace of mind. If you own a business then a money detector could save you a lot of money over time.