$20 bills change color, security to suit the times

BANGOR – When the color of money in America changed two weeks ago, not many Mainers were affected. However, when area banks started to disburse the Series 2004 $20 bills last week, their tune changed.

“It looks like somebody spilled something on it,” Eddington resident Bill Sloan said. “I just thought they would be brighter. It’s a really dull color.”

The newly redesigned $20 bill started circulating Oct. 9. However, most banks in the Bangor area did not receive the bills until the middle of last week. Subtle green, blue and peach now adorn America’s most popular bill.

“I think we’re too accustomed to our current money – the greenbacks,” Passadumkeag resident Kevin Grant said.

Grant and Sloan work for Bacon Printing Co. in Bangor. The duo said they like the new bills but added they’re not sure if the additional safety features are enough to prevent counterfeiting.

“It’s the makeup of the paper not the printing itself” that make quality counterfeit bills, Sloan said. “I think anybody could duplicate the copy. It’s the paper.”

Three security features that were first introduced in the late 1990s remain. A watermark of Andrew Jackson’s portrait can be seen from both sides when the bill is held up to light. A security thread with the words “USA TWENTY” is embedded in the paper and is visible from both sides when held up to the light. And color-shifting ink that embellishes the numeral 20 in the lower right corner on the face of the bill remains but now has a more dramatic color change from copper to green when the note is tilted.

“This is the most secure note the U.S. government has ever produced,” Federal Reserve Board Governor Mark W. Olson said a press release. “Its enhanced security will help ensure that our currency continues to represent value, trust and confidence to people all over the world. It will co-circulate with older-design notes, and the public can rest assured that all U.S. notes will continue to be legal tender.”

Counterfeiters are turning increasingly to digital methods as advances in technology make digital counterfeiting of currency easier and cheaper. In 1995, for example, less than 1 percent of counterfeit notes detected in the United States was produced digitally, according to the U.S. Secret Service. By 2002, that number had grown to nearly 40 percent.

“Today’s society is so naive that people have cashed $200 bills that don’t even exist,” said Grant.

Grant said it’s up to the person who receives the bill to check it for authenticity.

“I think it’s better for us to prevent counterfeits,” said Tony Dacosta, owner of Dunkin’ Donuts on Odlin Road in Bangor.

The doughnut shop has never taken a counterfeit bill to their knowledge, Dacosta said.

Bank representatives said they received several calls for the new bills after the original announcement was made on Oct. 9. Since then the number of calls has decreased.

“I’ve had a few people ask for them but not too many yet,” said KeyBank teller Victoria Grover.

The United States plans to introduce new designs for its currency every seven to 10 years to stay ahead of currency counterfeiters, the Department of the Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing Web site states. Color adds complexity to the paper money, making counterfeiting more difficult.

The Web site states the new design for the $20 bill will be followed by new designs for the $50 and $100 notes over the next few years. Redesign of the $5 and $10 notes is under consideration, but there are no plans to redesign the $1 and $2 notes.

The redesign also features two symbols of freedom – a blue eagle in the background to the left of Jackson’s portrait, and a metallic green eagle and shield to the right of his portrait.