Redesigned $10 note in circulation today

Wednesday, 01 March 2006 07:00 PM America/New_York

The redesigned $10 note entered circulation today at the National Archives. The Federal Reserve System has begun delivering the new notes to commercial banks for distribution. The notes will begin circulating immediately in the U.S. and will then be introduced in other countries in the days and weeks ahead, as international banks place orders for $10 notes from the Federal Reserve. The new $10 note incorporates easy-to-use security features for people to check their money, and subtle background colors in shades of orange, yellow and red.

Retailers may be able to spot counterfeit bills using some of the bill's new features:

Color-shifting ink: Tilt the ten to check that the numeral “10” in the lower right-hand corner on the face of the note changes color from copper to green.

Watermark: Hold the note up to the light to see if a faint image of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton appears to the right of his large portrait. It should be visible from both sides of the note. On the redesigned $10 note, it is easier than ever to locate the watermark-a blank oval has been incorporated into the design to highlight the watermark's location.

Security thread: Hold the note up to the light, and make sure there's a small strip that repeats “USA TEN” in tiny print. It should run vertically to the right of the portrait.

“Staying ahead of would-be counterfeiters is a top priority of the U.S. government, and in order to do that, our currency will need to be redesigned every seven to 10 years,” said U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral in a statement. “Through the introduction of new designs with state-of-the-art security features, we will continue to safeguard the integrity of U.S. currency and help protect businesses and consumers.”