Watermarks were first introduced in the 1996.
In the first significant design change in 67 years, United States currency is redesigned to incorporate a series of new counterfeit deterrents. The new notes are issued beginning with the $100 note in 1996, followed by the $50 in 1997, the $20 in 1998, and the $10 and $5 notes in 2000.
The watermark is created during the paper making process and is caused by variations in the density of the paper. As light passes through these tiny variations in thickness, it creates different tones. When held up to transmitted light these varying tones form a clear image.
By tracing our currency back to the colonial era, we can explore how U.S. history has helped shape the way we design, issue, and process modern U.S. banknotes.
According to the most recent Secret Service data, there is nearly $9 million in counterfeit money circulating in the US.
With the rise of digital printing, it is getting easier and easier to produce counterfeit bills that will fool the average cashier or business owner – not to mention most consumers. If you and your employees are not educated, your business could lose hundreds or thousands in profit by accepting counterfeit bills. Here are 8 ways to tell if a bill is fake shared by Fitsmallbusiness.com.