Money, Money, Money

Changing the face of money: The new $100 bill includes 3D security tricks — and hidden secrets galore

Have you seen the long-anticipated new $100 bill yet? The new money makeover is so busy and yet so cool that it could make you want to save a few.

It was nearly three years ago when the Federal Reserve board announced redesign plans for the Ben Franklin-faced bill. However, the release date's been continuously pushed back with the problems attributed to production issues. Now, currency collectors and financial institutions are expecting the note to finally begin circulating Oct. 8.

For starters, the new note has a sweet 3D ribbon on its face, making various designs (on the ribbon) look in motion. This and a number of other security features are designed to make the new $100 bill easy for consumers and merchants to authenticate and difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.

Here are some key features that are all so National Treasure (nerdy, I know) :

The 3-D Security Ribbon is cool enough for a movie. When you tilt the note back and forth while focusing on the blue, you will see the bells change to 100s as they move from right to left. If you tilt the bill side to side, they move up and down.

A Security Thread can be seen if held up to the light. The thread runs vertically to the left of Ben's face. Ever so patriotically, the thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100. This is repeated along the thread. Also, under ultraviolet light the thread glows pink.

There is a Bell in the Inkwell. The inkwell color shifts from copper to green if you tilt the note. This effect gives off the illusion that a bell appears and disappears inside the inkwell.

The Watermark didn't change. When you hold the bill up to the light you see a faint and rather sad picture of Ben in the (one) blank space to the right of the portrait. The watermark is visible from both sides of the note.

Color-Shifting Ink turns the numeral 100 in the lower (front) right corner of the note from copper to green.

And those are just the main security features. There are still more Where's Waldo? type things to keep you interested. Microprinting on Ben's jacket collar that can only be seen with a magnifying glass, for instance.

It took nearly a decade for officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve system and the United States Secret Service to design, create and unveil the new bill.

So, let the countdown begin and here's to hoping we all get paid!

The new $100 bill brings 3D tricks to American money.

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weekend event planner

These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Photo by Julian Buchan

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This weekend, the Houston Cinema Arts Festival will wind down with screenings at such venues as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Rice Cinema, and The DeLUXE Theater. The DeLUXE will also be present the Houston Comedy Film Festival, a two-day celebration of funny features and shorts. The fest will also have a performance by a live jazz band, aerial performers, and networking opportunities.

Fall festival season rolls on with everything from the Bayou City Art Festival to the Korean Festival Houston and opening weekend of the Texas Renaissance Festival. But let’s be honest: a lot of ladies will be at Reliant Stadium, hoping this man will feed them cherries.

Thursday, October 8

The Garden Club of Houston presents Bulb and Plant Mart
The Garden Club of Houston's Bulb & Plant Mart offers top-quality bulbs from the best growers around the United States and abroad. Additional special exhibits will include the live butterfly tent from The Houston Museum of Natural Science Cockrell Butterfly Center. Proceeds from the three-day event are used for the purposes of stimulating the interest in and knowledge of gardening, enhancing the beauty of our community, and protecting and restoring our fragile ecosystem. 5 pm (9 am Friday and Saturday).

Photo by Julian Buchan

Chris Brown and Usher in concert.

The University of Houston Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies (CMALS) and the Center for Public History presents Chulas Fronteras 50th Anniversary Film Screening/Panel
The University of Houston Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies and the Center for Public History invite the community to celebrate Les Blank’s landmark 1976 documentary Chulas Fronteras, which explores the rich traditions and cultural history of Tex-Mex music. The evening will include Tex-Mex music historical footage compiled by film curator Peter Lucas; a post-screening panel; and an after-party at Winnie’s, featuring DJ sets from Santos Sounds, Mexico City’s Sabotage Media, and Austin’s Trucha Soul. 6 pm.

My Hero Academia in Concert
The concert brings the anime’s 10-year, eight-season journey to life on stage. Accompanied by a 15-piece live band performing Yuki Hayashi’s score synced with visuals of people's favorite scenes, every note captures the triumph, heartbreak, and courage of Class 1-A, creating an immersive concert experience for fans new and old alike. 7:30 pm.

Friday, October 9

Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park 2026
An outdoor gallery will take over Memorial Park this weekend, offering patrons the opportunity to meet artists, view original works, and purchase paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures, functional art, and more. The three-day festival will feature live entertainment stages, a food truck park, and beverage stations throughout the festival. You and others can stroll around Houston’s iconic Memorial Park while enjoying the festival’s wine and craft beer garden. 10 am. (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Fielding’s Steak presents Old Fashioned Flight
Fielding’s Steak is raising a glass to one of America’s most iconic cocktails with the launch of a limited-edition Old Fashioned Flight, in celebration of Old Fashioned Week. Created as a tasting experience, the specialty flight features four unique interpretations of the classic Old Fashioned, each highlighting a different flavor profile while keeping bourbon and rye at the heart of the cocktail. Through Saturday, October 18. 11:30 am (11 am Saturday and Sunday).

Chris Brown and Usher in concert
R&B singers Chris Brown and Usher will be in Houston for two nights, as part of their The R&B Tour – and you know it’s going to be a problem. Their knack for inviting female audience members on stage for some simulated lasciviousness – which has obviously made some boyfriends and husbands a bit perturbed – has even made Saturday Night Live poke fun at it. Anyway, Chris Brown is touring in support of his new album, Brown. Usher has released nine albums in his career, most recently Coming Home in 2024. 7 pm.

St. Luke's United Methodist Church presents Roger Sayer: Interstellar 10
St. Luke's United Methodist Church and the Houston chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present internationally acclaimed organist Roger Sayer (who performed on the soundtrack of Christopher Nolan's 2014 film Interstellar) in concert, as part of his Interstellar 10 tour. The event coincides with World Space Week, making Houston's "Space City" an ideal setting for an evening inspired by one of the most beloved science fiction films of the modern era. 7 pm.

Saturday, October 10

Fluff Bake Bar Saturday Morning Specials x EJ Miller
Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar welcomes executive chef EJ Miller of Chardon for a special edition of her recurring Saturday morning specials. The collaboration will showcase a French-inspired bakery lineup, bringing together Miller’s culinary perspective with Masson’s signature approach to baking. Folks with a sweet tooth can stop by for a selection of freshly baked treats and pastries, with the menu to be announced on Fluff's Instagram. 10 am.

Korean Festival Houston
Korean Festival Houston celebrates the best of Korean food, music, performing arts, and culture. The fest welcomes a broad and vibrant community of Houstonians, including foodies, K-Pop fans, families, and anyone eager to experience Korean culture. Headliners Big Ocean, the first K-Pop group with hard-of-hearing members, will perform at 7 pm on Saturday. Sensory-friendly hours, held on Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm, will offer a quieter, more relaxed festival experience. 10 am (11 am Sunday).

The Secret Group presents Land of the Neon Sun Houston Music Community Learning Event and Album Release Party
The Suffers frontwoman Kam Franklin has a heavy schedule this weekend. Along with doing several shows at various coffeehouses in the city, she’ll also have an album release party for her solo debut, Land of the Neon Sun, as well as a free learning event for and by the local music community. The learning event will be early in the day, complete with an industry panel and a stripped-down set from Franklin. Later that evening, Franklin will be back with her band and some special guests to perform songs from the album. 5 and 10 pm.

37th Annual Accordion Kings & Queens Concert
Presented by Texas Folklife, the annual concert spotlights the accordion’s powerful role across Texas cultural communities and the many styles it brings to the stage: polka, conjunto, zydeco, Cajun, Tejano, swing, and more. The 37th annual concert will feature headliner Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and The Zydeco Twisters. Rooted in a celebrated Louisiana family tradition, the band delivers dance-floor zydeco with driving rhythms and crowd-ready energy. 7 pm.

Montrose Grocer presents Danse Macabre
The hip Montrose wine bar and shop will be joined by guest sommeliers Christina (Theodore Rex, Nancy's Hustle) and Mark Sayre (March, Milton's) for an evening of French wine and music. Look for an all-vinyl soundtrack of Cold Wave and Industrial tunes paired with by-the-glass wines priced at $20 or less. 9 pm.

Sunday, October 11

Texas Renaissance Festival
The Texas Renaissance Festival will kick off its 52nd season of chivalry, merriment, and magical experiences this weekend. New acts for the 2026 season include Paladin, the Errant Fool, the wandering jester who can be found throughout the festival; Sons of Olympus, where two brothers bring the gods and goddesses to life through aerial performance, acrobatics, fire, and death-defying stunts; and Lester Jesterson,the "best-er jester" at the Mockingbird Music Gazebo. Through Sunday, November 29. 9 am. (9 am Saturday).

Filipino American History Month Festival
The annual event celebrates Filipino American culture, heritage, and community connection. The day will include a culinary demonstration; a breaking and hip-hop showcase by B-Girl Eden and District Arts; performances by Filipino American rapper NUMP, American Idol contestant Cameron Concepcion, DJ Seduction & Kleancutt of the Krackernuttz, and Houston-based hip-hop artist Elow the Great; and more. Noon.

Candlelight presents Classic Rock on Strings and The Best of Hans Zimmer
Candlelight will present two live string-quartet concerts at Space Center Houston, one day after World Space Week concludes. The evening pairs Classic Rock on Strings with The Best of Hans Zimmer. Surrounded by thousands of candles, the performances will bring familiar rock anthems and cinematic scores to a venue closely connected to Houston’s role in human spaceflight. 6:30 and 8:45 pm.

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