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Federal Reserve Bank
of
DALLAS
HELEN E. H OLC OM B
D ALLAS, TE X A S
F IR S T V IC E P R E S ID E N T A N D
75265-5906
C H IE F O P E R A T IN G O F F IC E R
Septem ber 4, 1998
Notice 98-81
TO:
The C hief Operating Officer o f each
financial institution and others concerned
in the Eleventh Federal Reserve District
SUBJECT
Redesigned $20 Note
DETAILS
The Treasury Department, together with the Federal Reserve, has prepared a brochure
entitled New Designs For Your Money. The brochure introduces you and your customers to the
new 1996 series $20 notes, which will be released on September 24, 1998. New issues o f lower
denominations will follow.
Like the Series 1996 $100 and $50 notes issued in 1996 and 1997, respectively, this
new design contains advanced security features to discourage counterfeiters. Security features
such as a larger, off-center portrait, color-shifting ink, microprinting, a watermark, and a security
thread have been incorporated into the new design. The back side o f the note contains a large
dark numeral on a light-colored background to help the low-vision community identify the bill.
The $20 note is traditionally the large bill most frequently used to conduct daily
business and, as such, it may be the first o f the newly redesigned currency that many Americans
will see. The note is widely issued by ATM s and is the most often counterfeited note in the
United States.
ENCLOSURES
For your convenience, we have enclosed a brochure depicting the newly redesigned
note. To order the brochure and other educational material at no charge, please complete the
enclosed order form and mail or fax it to the Federal Reserve Bank o f Kansas City— O m aha
Branch.
For additional copies, bankers and others are encouraged to use one of the following toll-free numbers in contacting the Federal
Reserve Bank of Dallas: Dallas Office (800) 333-4460; El Paso Branch Intrastate (800) 592-1631, Interstate (800) 351-1012;
Houston Branch Intrastate (800) 392-4162, Interstate (800) 221-0363; San Antonio Branch Intrastate (800) 292-5810.
This publication was digitized and made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Historical Library (FedHistory@dal.frb.org)
MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please contact Sarah Jennings at (214) 922-5259. For small
quantities o f brochures and posters (50 or less), please call the Dallas F ed ’s publications line at
(214) 922-5254.
Sincerely,
U
S
A
*
O R D ER FO RM
NEW DESIGNS FOR YOUR MONEY
Educational Materials — The New $20 Note
Educational materials about the new U.S. currency are available for training, education, and consumer
information purposes in reasonable quantities at no charge. Unless specified, materials are in English. For
individual copies of posters and brochures, please contact your local Federal Reserve Bank.
•
Brochures (available in packets of 100)
•
Tent Cards
•
Posters
•
Training CD-ROM — to be shipped separately
•
Training video (VHS) — to be shipped separately
•
•
Kit for Small Businesses (one each o f brochure, large
and small posters, tent card)
Camera-Ready Package (letter for managers, tri-fold
B&W brochure, newsletter article, paycheck/bank
statement insert, poster)
To order your materials, please fill out all o f the information below and mail or fax to:
NEW DESIGNS FOR YOUR MONEY
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City — Omaha Branch
P.O. Box 3958
Omaha, NE 68103-0958
Fax Number: (800) 215-2939
Please send the following (indicate quantities for each language desired):
_____
Packets of 100 brochures, for a total o f ____ brochures.
____ English
_____Spanish
_____Chinese
_____Korean
_____Vietnamese
Folded 17" x 22" full-color posters.
____ English
_____Spanish
Flat 8-1/2" x 11" black & white posters.
____ English
_____Spanish
Flat 8-1/2" x 11" full-color posters.
____ English
_____Spanish
. Chinese
. Tent Card
. Korean
Vietnamese
. Camera-ready package
. Small business kit
. Video
. CD-ROM
SHIPPING INFORMATION — Please type or print.
Name___________________________
Company or Organization
Street Address__________
C ity______
Phone (___ )
State
Zip
he U n ite d S ta te s is issuing currency
with new security features. These
enhancements make U .S . currency
easier to recognize as genuine and
more secure against advancing .technologies
that could be used for counterfeiting.
T
Newly designed $100 notes were issued
in 1996, newly designed $50s were issued in
1997, and the newly designed $20s are being
issued in 1998. Lower denominations with
new designs will follow. There will be no recall
or devaluation of any U.S. currency, so you will
continue to see both older and newer designs.
Whether old or new, all U.S. currency always
will be honored at full face value.
The Need for Change
The new currency series of bank notes
represents an ongoing commitment to protect
the U.S. currency. In fact, U.S. currency has
seen importefnt changes throughout the years,
. beginning with the first series of U.S. bank
notes issued in 1861. These early notes fea
tured a distinctive cotton/linen paper, green
ink, and a fine-line design. In 1928, each
denomination was standardized with easily
recognizable single portraits and illustrations.
In 1990, U.S. currency was enhanced with two
important new features—the security thread
that runs vertically through the note, and
microprinting around the portrait border— but
the currency’s appearance remained largely
unchanged.
Now after nearly four generations, U.S.
currency is undergoing a more noticeable
change in appearance. And in the future,
as new, dependable technology becomes
available, the next generation of currency
enhancements will be incorporated into
the currency.
WHAT’S NEW ABOUT YOUR MONEY
P o rtra it
Fine Line
P rin tin g P atterns
Q Portrait The enlarged p o rtra it o f Andrew
Jackson is easier to recognize, w hile the added
detail is harder to duplicate. The p o rtra it is now
off-center, providing room fo r a waterm ark and
reducing wear and tear on the portrait.
Q
printed behind both the p o rtra it and the build
ing are d iffic u lt to replicate.
W a te rm a rk
S erial
N u m b ers
Fine Line Printing Patterns The fine lines
Q
Watermark A waterm ark identical to the
p ortrait is visible from both sides when held up
to a light.
AZ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A
Q
Color-Shifting Ink The number in the lower
rig ht corner on the fro n t o f the note looks green
when viewed straight on, but appears black
when viewed at an angle.
Federal
Reserve
In d icato rs
^
AZ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A
T H IS NO TE IS LEGAL TEN D ER
FOR A L L DEBTS. PU B L IC AND PRIVATE
ColorS h iftin g
Ink
S ecurity
Thread
M ic ro p rin tin g
$100 note, issued in March, 1996.
Also, a machine-readable feature has been incor
porated fo r the blind. It w ill facilitate develop
m ent o f convenient scanning devices th a t could
identify the note as a $20.
Secretciy o f the Treasury.
Treasurer o f the United States.
Low -Vision
Feature
*50 note, issued in October, 1997.
Low-Vision Feature The large numeral on
the back o f the $20 note is easy to read.
^
Microprinting Because they're so small,
m icroprinted words are hard to replicate. On the
fro n t o f the note, "USA 20" is repeated w ith in
the number in the lower left-hand corner, and
"The United States o f Am erica" is along the
lower edge ornam entation o f the oval fram ing
the portrait.
Q
Security Thread A polymer thread embedded
vertically in the paper to the fa r left o f the por
tra it indicates the $20 denom ination. The words
"USA TWENTY" and a flag can be seen from
both sides o f the note when held up to a b righ t
light. The number "20" appears in the star field
o f the flag. Additionally, this thread glows green
when held under an ultraviolet light.
{ j)
Federal Reserve Indicators A new univer
sal seal represents the entire Federal Reserve
System. A letter and number beneath the left
serial number identify the issuing Federal
Reserve Bank.
Q
Serial Numbers An additional letter is added
to the serial number. The unique com bination of
eleven numbers and letters appears tw ice on the
fro n t o f the note.
Familiar Features
The new currency is still distinctly rec
ognizable as American. Many elements
remain the same, including:
A Sm ooth Transition
It is im portant to remember that a ll U.S.
currency w ill continue to be honored at full 4
face value. There w ill be rio recall or devalua:
.
tion of any U.S. notes. As the new currency is
►
Size of the bill
►
Ink colors— black on the fro n t
and green on the back
►
Paper—cotton and linen w ith
red and blue fibers
►
Texture of the paper
►
Historical figures and back illustra
tions—w ith slight alterations
►
Motto— "In God We Trust."
phased in, the old notes w ill be tetrred by the
Federal Reserve when they are returned
through the banking system. This means that
there is no tim e lim it or requirement for
exchanging a previous series for a new series.
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In addition, the security measures first
introduced in the Series 1990 currency—
m icroprinting and the embedded security
thread— have been m odified fo r use in
the new currency. Other changes incor
porated in the new design include a
modified serial number and a m odified
Federal Reserve Seal.
New Features
The design o f U.S. currency has been
changed to incorporate a number of new
security features, among them:
►
Larger, off-center portrait
►
Watermark portrait
►
Color-shifting ink
^
Fine-line printing patterns
►
Low-vision feature on $20 and $50
■* ' •
For further information, contact your
local bank, Federal Reserve Bank or
U.S. Secret Service office, or visit our
website at http://www.moneyfactory.com
•'
Look for these features
to guard against counterfeits
• Color-shifting ink - Tilt the front of the bill back
and forth to see the color on the numeral on the
lower right corner change from a distinct green to
black and back again.
• W aterm ark - Hold the bill up to a light source to
see the watermark in the blank space to the right of
the portrait. Because the watermark is in the paper,
not printed on it, the watermark looks the same
from the reverse side.
• Security thread - Verify the presence of a thin strip
running from top to bottom to the far left o f the
portrait on newly designed $20 bills, right on $50s,
left on the $100s. It is a strip of plastic actually
embedded in, not printed on, the paper. It is visible
only when you hold the bill up to a light source. On
the $20 you can see "USA TWENTY" and a flag from
both sides of the note. The thread glows under ultra
violet light - green on the $20, yellow on the $50,
and red on the $100. The denomination number
appears in the star field of the flag on the $20
and $50.
• Fine Line Printing Patterns - Look at the very
fine lines behind the portrait. Then turn the note
over and examine the fine lines behind the building.
Be certain that the lines on both sides are clear not splotchy, or composed of dots.
• Microprinting - Examine the portrait and the
security thread under a magnifier to see very small
printed words. In the $20, "USA 20" is repeated
within the lower left-hand number and "The
United States of America" is on the lower edge
ornamentation of the oval framing the portrait. On
the $50, microprinting appears in the side borders
and in Grant's collar. On the $100 it appears in the
lower left corner numeral and in Franklin's coat.
• Comparison - Check the note against currency you
know to be authentic and look for differences in the
features above as well as in the texture of the paper,
which should have a familiar feel.
If you receive a counterfeit note
•
•
•
•
•
Keep the bill from the passer.
Delay the passer by some excuse if possible.
Telephone the police or the U.S. Secret Service.
Observe the passer's description and that of any
companion or vehicle used.
W rite your initials and the date on the bill, and
surrender the bill only to the police or the U.S.
Secret Service.
@FedFRASER