The MOST secure money in history was introduced in the United States in October 2003 as a newly redesigned, colorful $20 bill.

     In more than 30 cities and towns all across the United States, leaders of those towns and bankers bought things with the $20 bills for the first time.

     The federal government started shipping the new money to branches of the Federal Reserve Banks and local banks in the fall of 2003. The new notes will be used with the old ones, until all the old ones finally wear out. The old bills are still good money until they wear out and are destroyed by the Federal Reserve Bank (the central bank of the U.S.).

     The Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Federal Reserve System have been telling government and business leaders around the world to let people know what the new bills will look like. The U. S. government has taught them about the new security features. They have also worked to make sure they will work in stores and in other important machines, such as in vending machines for smaller bills, stamps, food and soda.

     New designs for the $50 and $100 bills will be done in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Different colors will be used for different denominations to tell the denominations apart. The $1 and $2 notes will not be redesigned.

     The new notes make history in two ways --- 1) It is the first time in modern history, U. S. currency features background colors other than black and green, and 2) it is the most secure currency ever to protect against counterfeiting.

New security features:

     Security thread --- Hold the bill up to the light and look for the security thread or plastic strip that is embedded in the paper and runs vertically up one side of the note. If you look closely, the words USA TWENTY and a small flag are visible along the thread from both sides of the notes. The thread glows green when held under an ultraviolet light.

     Color-shifting ink --- Look at the number "20" in the lower right corner on the face of the bill. The ink uses a patented technology of OVP, a light interference pigment. When you tilt the note up and down, the color-shifting ink changes color from black to green. This technology from Flex Products, Inc. in California, generates an optical phenomenon found in nature in the colors of a hummingbird's throat feathers and in butterfly wings.

Products from Flex now protect the currencies of about 50 countries. Its technology is also used in passports, visas, postage stamps, identity cards, and excise tax stamps.

     Watermark --- Hold the bill up to the light and look for the watermark, or faint image, similar to the large portrait on the face of the notes. The watermark is part of the paper itself and can be seen from both sides of the note.

New Design Features:

     Color --- The most notable difference is the addition of subtle background colors of green, peach and blue added to both sides of the note. The words "USA TWENTY" have been printed in blue in the background to the right of the portrait. Small "20" numerals are printed in the background on the back of the bill.

     Symbols of Freedom --- Appearing on the front of the note are two new American eagle symbols. The large eagle in the background to the left of Pres. Andrew Jackson's portrait is representative of those drawn and sculpted during his time period. The smaller eagle to the lower right of the portrait is a more contemporary illustration.

     Portrait and White House vignette --- The oval borders and fine lines surrounding the portrait on the front and the White House vignette on the back have been removed. The portrait has been moved up and the shoulders have been extended into the border. Additional engraving details have been added to the background.

     Counterfeiters of money are starting to use digital equipment, like cameras and copiers. They make copying easier for them. In 1995, less than one percent of the counterfeit bills detected in the U. S. were produced by digital equipment. By 2002, that proportion had grown to nearly 40 percent.

     However, even though many counterfeiters have been successful, counterfeiting of U. S. currency has been kept at low levels, maybe as few as one or two notes in every 10,000 notes produced by the federal government.

Did You Know?

Old currency is still accepted as money, and you'll always be able to use it as legal tender!