US dollar bills are probably the most well-known banknotes in the world, and if you thought they would always remain the same shape, you’re more than wrong. The US government is now preparing a major change in the design of its banknotes to improve security (and make it harder for those who want to counterfeit the bills). We’ll tell you all about it below!
Why are the banknotes going to change?
The advancement of technology is happening in all directions, and it is now much easier to counterfeit banknotes. That is the main reason why the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Secret Service and the Advanced Counterfeiting Deterrence Committee have made this decision: they need to safeguard the integrity of the dollar (and even more so in this economic context that we are living in). And it is not that the banknotes of today are easy to counterfeit or that they do not have security methods, but that current technology is going two steps ahead, and the administration also needs to modernize so that counterfeiting crimes do not continue to occur.
Which banknotes are going to change and when?
The changes in banknotes will be made in a staggered manner, as the Federal Reserve has announced, and the changes will come in the following years.
- By 2026, all 10 dollae bills will be modified.
- Two years later, in 2028, the 50 dollar bills will be changed. The turn of the 20 dollar bills will come in 2030.
- The 5 dollar bills (which are the most common) will see their change between 2032 and 2035.
- And finally, the 100 dollar bills will be changed in 2034.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to change your money immediately when the date arrives, the current bills will be collected little by little, so you will have time to continue using them without problems.
What will change in the new banknotes?
The new banknotes will have advanced technology to make it much more difficult to counterfeit them. Here we explain the most important changes that you will be able to see:
- Security thread: If you hold the banknote up to the light, you will see a shiny line embedded in the paper.
- 3D stripe: This is a special strip that changes its design when you tilt the banknote.
- Colour-changing ink: In the lower right corner, there is a part that will change color depending on the angle at which you look at it.
- Watermark: When you look at the banknote against the light, a hidden image will appear that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
- Microprints: These are super small letters and numbers that cannot be easily copied.
- Embossed printing: When you run your fingers over the banknote, you will feel some rough or textured areas, which makes it more difficult to counterfeit.
With these changes, anyone who wants to counterfeit a banknote will have to work hard so that no one notices.
Will banknotes be rejected?
Yes, banknotes that are severely damaged will not be accepted in shops, ATMs or banks. “Severely damaged” means banknotes that are faded (or have very worn colours), banknotes that are torn or cut, banknotes that have been damaged by exposure or banknotes that are missing basic security features. Those banknotes that are torn but are complete can be taken to the bank to request an exchange.
This will be the change that will occur in one of the most reliable currencies in the world, so that it remains that way for a long time.