The new and flashy $100 note in Georgia

It is more than three weeks US Federal Reserve Board Issued Redesigned $100 Note. The note is here but not yet widely exchanged.

There is no official data about the new Benjamins already in Georgian circulation. One of the largest banks here, Bank of Georgia, claims they do exchange new $100 notes for Georgian Laris. However, asking the currency traders in exchange booths around Tbilisi, they either have not heard or seen about the new Benjamins.

Taking into consideration the fact that the hundred is extremely popular and trusted medium of exchange in countries other than the US, the new Benjamins are probably going to appear in Georgian wallets very soon.

the $100 bill was redesigned in order to make it harder to counterfeit. However, it is more expensive to print it than its predecessor. The old $100 note cost 7.8 per bill vs. 12.7 for the new style.

Benjamin Franklin on the front and Independence Hall on the back are still there, but a little bit changed. Franklins portrait feels rough to the touch and there is a new vignette of Independence Hall featuring the back, rather than the front of the building. Furthermore, some details added such as hidden text and pictographs that reveal only under certain conditions; a blue 3-D security ribbon with images of bells and 100s, and a color-changing bell in an inkwell. Besides the hundreds are most commonly counterfeited bill, it is said that all the changes will make the bill harder to counterfeit.