US Currency Gets a Face Lift

by Brian E. Shicoff

	Currency notes of the United States have always been subjected to modifications, mostly subtle, intricate alterations for the sake of combating counterfeiters. By the end of 1996, however, the one hundred dollar bill, for the first time in sixty-seven years, will undergo visible transformation. The prominent image of Benjamin Franklin, for instance, will be significantly enlarged and centered to the left of the bill. Furthermore, by the end of this century, new currency notes that are much more difficult to counterfeit will replace all those currently in circulation. Most likely for many, the "face lift" will be of little, if any, concern. On the contrary, for counterfeiters throughout the world, and specifically in the United States, the change and enhancement to the dollar bills signal the need to upgrade their technology in order to actively challenge legitimate authority. One of the technologically-advanced features that may bring about the defeat of counterfeiters, at least temporarily, is the incorporation of a security thread that emits visible radiation when subjected to ultra-violet light. Another feature include color-shifting ink that poses difficulty for counterfeiters to reproduce concentric fine-line printing.
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	For years, European nations, like the United States, have encountered problems in combating counterfeiters. Improvements in copying and scanning resolution have made counterfeiting much more feasible over the years. Possibly, anyone with the desire and the easily-acquired technology can get away with producing worthless monetary notes. For the past sixty-seven years, the United States government has been reluctant to alter the hundred dollar bill significantly and visibly. With recent developments, however, perhaps the government is finally acknowledging that the best method to fight counterfeiting is to remain ahead of counterfeiters in the technology game. The process of replacing all hundred dollar bills currently in circulation will require careful planning, but as of yet, no information concerning how this replacement will take place has been released to the public.
	Federal Reserve Corp.