> In the United States, which historical figure appears on the $100 bill?And the answer: Benjamin Franklin. Franklin's face appears on the $100 bill, which is the largest denominationcurrently in circulation. There used to be a $500 bill featuring PresidentWilliam McKinley, but it was discontinued in 1969 for lack of use. Photo credit: public domain.Back in 1914, the first $100 bill was issued.Although it was still adorned with Ben Franklin's face, it was far from thelargest bill in circulation: denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000were in use until 1969. Today, the $100 bill is the second most widelycirculated bill around, second only to the dollar bill. While the dollar billmakes up more than 31% of the more than $1.1 trillion Federal Reserve notes incirculation, the hundred dollar bill comes in a close second at 26%.Interestingly, though, most $100 bills aren't in the United States. A whopping75% of $100 bills are held internationally, because the U.S. dollar is the topglobal international reserve currency,The hundred dollar bill is also a site (and sight) of constant innovation, as itis often the most counterfeited bill. For decades, officials have sought ways tomake the bill more unique and difficult to replicate, and the most recentmanifestation of this effort is color-changing ink. On the newest redesign ofthe hundred dollar bill, the lower right corner has the capability to shiftbetween copper tones to traditional green when in the light. According to Esquire, this is thanks to the ink containing microscopic metallic flakes thatreflect various wavelengths of light. Additionally, before the issue of theprevious version of the $100 in 1996, each bill contained the seal of a specificFederal Reserve Bank. In 1996, individual seals were replaced with a generalseal denoting the entire Federal Reserve System, so bills of higher denominationcould receive a unique seal. In recent years, some groups have called for the disuse of hundred dollar bills.Thanks to widespread global counterfeiting, some economists have called for theelimination of the bill — giving citizens a few years to turn in their hundreddollar bills, otherwise facing the currency to become invalid and extinct.Though it would surely make grandparents' gift-giving a little bit moredifficult... Learn more about the new $100 bill below.