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New $10 Bill Design to be Released in March
March 12, 2006
The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) announced recently that the new design $10 bill will be released in early March, 2006. Users of UVeritech equipment will continue to be able to use their units to verify the newly designed notes.
"The new $10 note design continues the U.S. Government's efforts to make our currency safer, smarter, and more secure," Dawn Haley of the BEP said in a statement announcing the new bill.
The new bill still features the visage of Alexander Hamilton, the first Treasury Secretary. The intention is not to create a counterfeit-proof note -- which is basically impossible -- but one that's harder to duplicate and easier to authenticate. "The new designs have definitely improved upon our efforts in detection and enforcement,” said Eric Zahren, spokesman for the Secret Service.
The $10 features three major security improvements. There is a security thread running through the bill that says "USA Ten" when held to the light. As with the other previously redesigned notes, this security thread glows when exposed to the correct wavelength of ultra-violet light. UV fluorescence of the new $10 note is the same as the previous $10 note – a gold/orange color.
The second feature is the color of the ink used for the number “10” on the lower right side on the face of the note. This ink changes from copper to green when the bill is shifted under the light. U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral used the phrase "Tilt your ten" to teach people about the new feature. Finally, holding the bill up to light reveals the third security feature: a faint image, or watermark, on the right of Alexander Hamilton.
"We actually saw a slight uptick in counterfeiting when the new bills (the $20 and $50) were introduced," said a Federal Reserve spokesperson. "Counterfeiters try to take advantage of people's unfamiliarity with the bills."
The $100 note will be the next denomination to be redesigned, to be unveiled in early 2006, according to the Treasury.
