Just like the $20s, the $50 bills are being re-designed to make it harder for counterfeiters to copy them and print the money themselves. The $20 bills had splashes of peach, blue and yellow added to them, so what's different about the 50s?

     They will still have a portrait of General Ulysses S. Grant on the front and the U. S. Capitol on the back. But now the new bills will feature background colors of red and blue on both sides. The stars and stripes of the United States flag are printed in blue and red behind the portrait of Gen. Grant. A field of blue stars is located to the left of the portrait. Three red stripes are located to its right. A small metallic silver-blue star is on the lower-right side of Grant.

     The bill also shows tiny yellow number 50s scattered in the background on the back of the note.

     They also have a thread in them that glows yellow when it's exposed to an ultraviolet light. Some of the ink changes color from copper to green when you tilt the note in your hand. You can see watermarks when the bills are held up to the light. On one place, the words "United States of America" appear on Grant's collar under his beard.

     The government plans to print about 77 million of the new $50s. You will start seeing them in late September of 2004. The new bills are the same size as the ones we use now. Also, they will still use black ink on the front and green ink on the back.

     Oh, remember that Gen. Grant was a general in the Civil War and the 18th president of our country.

     The government also plans to add color to the $100 bill, the one most copied by counterfeiters around the world.

Did You Know?

Most $50 bills last five years before they wear out and have to be replaced!