A curious thing has happened in US currency: the $100 bill recently overtook the ubiquitous $1 bill in circulation volume, for the first time in history. In other words, the most valuable banknote in the United States became the most widely circulated. Show As we show in our chart of the week, based on an article in the IMF’s Finance & Development magazine, there are more $100 bills circulating now than ever before, roughly doubling in volume since the global financial crisis. So what explains this boom in Benjamins, as the bills are known, especially when cashless options are increasing by the day? In this age of digital everything, are Americans suddenly growing nostalgic for greenbacks in high denominations? Not exactly. While overall demand for US currency is indeed on the rise, most $100 bills are held abroad. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, nearly 80 percent of $100 bills—and more than 60 percent of all US bills—are overseas, up from roughly 30 percent in 1980. The most valuable banknote in the United States became the most widely circulated. Geopolitical instability could be one reason behind the surge in $100 bills, according to Fed economist Ruth Judson. “Overseas demand for US dollars is likely driven by its status as a safe asset,” Judson told the Richmond Fed’s Econ Focus in 2018. According to a 2017 paper by Judson, international demand for US dollars increased over the 1990s and into the early 2000s, and then stabilized or declined after the 2002 debut of the cash euro. This decline in demand continued until late 2008, when the global financial crisis triggered renewed demand for US banknotes. Harvard University’s Kenneth Rogoff says big banknotes and illicit activity are closely linked. “Worldwide, high-value currency notes are mainly used to avoid taxes and regulation, and for illegal activity,” he observes. “Apartments and houses in major cities all over the world are paid for with suitcases of cash every day, and it is not because the buyers are afraid of bank failures.” Another factor may be at play, Rogoff says. “Underground demand for paper currency has been surely rising in part because interest rates and inflation are exceptionally low.” But why the dollar? Its role as the dominant international reserve currency may be the key, according to Rogoff. By 1862, the Demand Notes incorporate fine-line engraving, intricate geometric lathe work patterns, a U.S. Department of the Treasury seal, and engraved signatures to aid in counterfeit deterrence. To this day, U.S. currency continues to add features to deter counterfeiting. In her lifetime, Dame Nellie Melba achieved international recognition as a soprano. Melba debuted in 1887 in Verdi's Rigoletto in Brussels and went on to sing with great success in London, Paris, Milan, New York and other major cities. Her most famous role was Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème. Although she toured the world, Melba found time for civic work in Australia, including raising funds for war charities. Dame Nellie's homecoming in 1902 involved an Australian and New Zealand concert tour (the tour program is depicted on the banknote). Sir John Monash, a soldier, engineer and administrator, was one of Australia's greatest military commanders. During World War I, Monash served in Gallipoli and on the Western Front. His greatest victory was at Hamel. This battle inspired a succession of victories, culminating in the breaking of the Hindenburg Line. Throughout the 1920s, Sir John maintained a strong public profile, represented returned soldiers and frequently advised on military and engineering matters. He held a number of prominent civilian positions, including head of Victoria's State Electricity Commission. Towards the end of his life, Sir John was instrumental in the building of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. Date of First IssueThe $100 polymer banknote was first issued on 15 May 1996. Did you know?Dame Nellie Melba was born Helen Porter Mitchell. After travelling to Europe in 1886, she adopted the stage name ‘Melba’ in homage to her home town. As Director-General of Repatriation and Demobilisation, Sir John Monash streamlined procedures for the repatriation of Australian soldiers and presided over the Australian Imperial Forces Education Scheme, which assisted their transition to civilian life. The United States one-hundred-dollar bill ($100) is a denomination of United States currency. The first United States Note with this value was issued in 1862 and the Federal Reserve Note version was launched in 1914, alongside other denominations.[2] Statesman, inventor, diplomat, and American founding father Benjamin Franklin has been featured on the obverse of the bill since 1914.[3] On the reverse of the banknote is an image of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which has been used since 1928.[3] The $100 bill is the largest denomination that has been printed and circulated since July 13, 1969, when the larger denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 were retired.[4] As of December 2018, the average life of a $100 bill in circulation is 22.9 years before it is replaced due to wear. The bills are also commonly referred to as "Bens", "Benjamins", or "Franklins", in reference to the use of Benjamin Franklin's portrait by the French painter Joseph Duplessis on the denomination, as "C-Notes" or "Century Notes", based on the Roman numeral for 100, or as "blue faces", based on the blue tint of Benjamin Franklin's face in the bill's current design. The bill is one of two denominations printed today that does not feature a president of the United States, the other being the $10 bill, featuring Alexander Hamilton. It is also the only denomination today to feature a building not located in Washington, D.C., that being Independence Hall located in Philadelphia on the reverse. The time on the clock of Independence Hall on the reverse, according to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, showed approximately 4:10.[5] It has been suggested this may refer to 4/10, or April 10, the 100th day of the year. The newer colorized notes show 10:30. The Series 2009 $100 bill redesign was unveiled on April 21, 2010, and was issued to the public on October 8, 2013. The new bill costs 12.6 cents to produce and has a blue ribbon woven into the center of the currency with "100" and Liberty Bells, alternating, that appear when the bill is tilted. As of June 30, 2012, the $100 bill comprised 77% of all US currency in circulation.[6] Federal Reserve data from 2017 showed that the number of $100 bills exceeded the number of $1 bills. However, a 2018 research paper by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago estimated that 80 percent of $100 bills were in other countries. Possible reasons included $100 bills being used as a reserve currency against economic instability that affected other currencies, and use of the bills for criminal activities.[7] History[edit]Large size notes[edit](approximately 7.4218 × 3.125 in ≈ 189 × 79 mm)
Small size notes[edit](6.14 × 2.61 in ≅ 157 × 66 mm)
Small size[edit]Removal of large denomination bills ($500 and up)[edit]The Federal Reserve announced the removal of large denominations of United States currency from circulation on July 14, 1969. While larger denominations remained legal tender,[14] with their removal the one-hundred-dollar bill was the largest denomination left in circulation. All the Federal Reserve Notes produced from Series 1928 up to before Series 1969 (i.e. 1928, 1928A, 1934, 1934A, 1934B, 1934C, 1934D, 1950, 1950A, 1950B, 1950C, 1950D, 1950E, 1963, 1966, 1966A) of the $100 denomination added up to $23.1708 billion.[15] Since some banknotes had been destroyed, and the population was 200 million at the time, there was less than one $100 banknote per capita circulating. As of June 30, 1969, the U.S. coins and banknotes in circulation of all denominations were worth $50.936 of which $4.929 was circulating overseas.[16] So the currency and coin circulating within the United States was $230 per capita. Since 1969, the demand for U.S. currency has greatly increased. The total amount of circulating currency and coin passed one trillion dollars in March 2011. Despite the degradation in the value of the U.S. $100 banknote (which was worth about $738.93 in 1969), and despite competition from some more valuable foreign notes (most notably, the 500 euro banknote), there are no plans to re-issue banknotes above $100. The widespread use of electronic means to conduct high-value transactions today has made large-scale physical cash transactions obsolete and therefore, from the government's point of view, unnecessary for the conduct of legitimate business. Quoting T. Allison, Assistant to the Board of the Federal Reserve System in his October 8, 1998 testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Committee on Banking and Financial Services:
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