New Benjamins

In an effort to stay one step ahead of organized, well-financed counterfeiters, the Federal Reserve is issuing crisp new $100 bills on Tuesday.

The new $100 bill, which was announced on April 21, 2010, will be released despite the government shutdown (nothing but an act of God stops the U.S. from printing money).

The new C-notes feature updated anti-counterfeit measures including raised printing, microprinting, and color shifting images. Benjamin Franklin’s image is off-center and there are numerous references to the Constitution printed on the bills.

An earlier release date was scrapped when a printing error sent 30 million notes to the incinerator.

The old $100 bills will be gradually removed from circulation by banks and the Federal Reserve.