Philadelphia Hosts Makeover Party For The New 'Benjamin'
By Pat Loeb and Nicole Brewer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Federal Reserve officials today unveiled the long-awaited new version of the $100 bill, which includes cutting edge anti-counterfeiting technology.
The event took place at the Franklin Institute, and Philadelphia's favorite son is still the star of the currency.
"Benjamin Franklin was instrumental in actually creating currency for this great nation," says Franklin Institute vice president Frederick Bertley, who thinks the science museum was the most appropriate place to launch the first $100 bill redesign in 17 years.
Not only was Franklin a paper currency fan, he was also a vigilant anti-counterfeiter, and the new note is all about features that can't be copied.
Fed vice president Michelle Scipione (in photo) was awed by the new security ribbon, embedded into the paper, which changes from 100's to Liberty Bells when the angle of the light changes.
"When you tilt it side to side, it moves front to back, when you tilt it front to back, it moves side to side," Scipione notes. "It's absolutely amazing."
The bill got delivered to banks today and should begin to filter into circulation in the next few weeks.
