The United States $100 Bill is the largest denomination of U.S. money currently being printed. The famous U.S. inventor, diplomat, and U.S. statesman, Benjamin Franklin is on the face of the bill with Independence Hall on the reverse. About 7% of all bills made in this time are $100 bills and according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the life span of a circulating $100 bill is 60 months.

The Bald Eagle was featured on front of the first Large-sized $100 United States Note released in 1862; this bill had two reverse design variations. The $100 United States Note was redesigned in 1869 with Abraham Lincoln on the front and in 1875 the back was redesigned again; it was then redesigned again in 1914 having Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and symbolic designs on the back representing work, abundance, America, peace, and business. In 1863, the first $100 Gold Certificate was released containing a bald eagle and big green 100 on the front with an orange reverse side. In 1870, the bill was redesigned to be one-sided and had Thomas Hart Benton's portrait on it; it kept Benton's picture on it when the bill was changed in 1882. James Monroe was shown on the first $100 Silver Certificate released in 1878. In 1891, the $100 Silver Certificate was redesigned and the black reverse was changed to green. The $100 bill was issued as Federal Reserve Note for the first time in the year 1914. The face contained a picture of Benjamin Franklin and the back had symbolic designs showing labor, abundance, America, peace, and trade.

In 1929, all United States bills were switched to the current size. All $100 bills had Franklin on the front and on the back, it had Independence Hall. On the $100 Federal Reserve Note, the seal and serial numbers were green and on the $100 Gold Certificate, the seal and serial numbers were a golden color. In 1966, for the first and only time, the $100 bill was released as a Small-sized United States Note. Starting in the 1990s, the $100 bill started getting changes made to prevent counterfeiting. These included a watermark, a plastic security thread, microscopic printing, and a Federal Reserve Seal replacing the Federal Reserve Bank Seal.

1966 $100 RARE US NOTE RED SEAL LEGAL TENDER NOTE RARE    US $225.95

1966 $100 US Note Red Letter Legal Tendar    US $150.00

2003A - $100 ST LOUIS - STAR NOTE - FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE - US CUR - PAPER MONEY    US $129.00

Would it be a wise thing to put away a few crisp new dollar bills for the future? As a face value investment? Would coins be better? Collectible paper currency has been with us since the Revolutionary War. In most families it was usually the coins that were saved, if any money was saved at all, during difficult times.

However, the fact that pristine examples of colonial notes can be found in fine currency collections today suggests that someone had the need, or the foresight, to put away a little cash. And over time, these mere scraps of paper became ever more scarce. Paper money, after all, is not such a durable commodity as coinage.

As living conditions evolved, and the life of the average citizen improved, there came to be time, interest and funds for leisure time activities, hobbies such as coin and stamp collecting, and to a lesser extent, the collecting of paper money.

Today coin collectors refer to paper money enthusiasts as Rag Pickers, and worse. However, many a coin collector eventually gives in to a growing interest in paper as a relevant adjunct to his growing stash of ancient and glowing metal. Both hobbies can be wickedly expensive. Investment in a choice coin or bill can pay off rather well. Or not.

But coins and paper bills still circulate. The final victory of the credit card, and who knows what after that, has yet to be concluded. The point is, even though coins are no longer made of gold and silver, or even solid copper for that matter, all things being equal, a coin will never sink below its face value. And the same can be said for a dollar bill, or a five, ten twenty, fifty, or one hundred dollar bill. (This is not the time to discuss purchasing power. Just let it go.)

So, you get coins and paper money at face value, just by removing it from your pocket or wallet and tossing it into your dresser drawer. Or neatly tuck each into a special collector envelope, holder, or album.

When you do this, you have made a face value investment. Especially if you make the effort to acquire uncirculated specimens at your bank instead of from your pocket, you may end up guilty of a successful investment. Whether collectible coins or collectible paper currency will make the better investment is an open question. If you must choose between the two, here are two things to consider:

There are more coin collectors than paper money collectors.

Demand for coins is perhaps higher overall, but remember, there are more coins in existence. Coins tend to last. Paper money is relatively fragile. Well, so it is. A one dollar bill lasts six months in circulation on average. Then it is destroyed by the government, with the banks as its accomplices.

Do these facts influence the relative value of coins versus paper. If you answer, I need more information, you get an A for the day.

My advice? Make no decision. Just put away some nice new coins and some equally fetching uncirculated (crisp) paper money. Learn how to store each.

Save them for your grandchildren.

In twenty to fifty years they will remember you as a genius.

About The Author:

David W. Baker has collected coins and paper money since age 11 -- so, more than half a century. The present article topic is covered in greater detail on his web site at http://www.valuable-coin-stories.com/collectible-paper-currency.html

Coins have been a pleasant distraction for Dave over the years. During that time he has learned more than a bit about coin value in the marketplace. But, he would be the first to admit that his greatest pleasure with coins has been the hooks they have to history and to other areas of learning. He also says that he can never quite get beyond the feeling that, if any of his coins could talk, the stories would be priceless!

The web site, http://www.valuable-coin-stories.com is an effort on his part to build enthusiasm for coin collecting among those who, like him, may find the exposure to these artifacts of the past a source of genuine enjoyment in the present.

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