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Detecting counterfeit bills today is a matter of materials testing, not appearance.

This reasoning for the new bills, while official, doesn't wash well. Sure, it could be that everyone responsible for this is a moron, but it's hard to accept.

"This reasoning for the new bills, while official, doesn't wash well. Sure, it could be that everyone responsible for this is a moron, but it's hard to accept."

Just thinking out loud, but maybe they want to appear to be doing something to keep public confidence in the legitimacy of the paper money they are holding up.

There are countries where certain denominations are so well counterfeited that said denominations are not welcome, highly scrutinized, etc. In panama, US$50 and $100 have become so well copied that MOST places will not accept them without you signing with ID versus the serial number of the bill. Of course, $50 is nearly a weeks pay in Panama as well.

Until materials testing is so easy to apply that every person can carry their own, and said test isn't going to be defeated 3 months after it is released, it just won't work.

Corrolary question - If you were paid a decent sum of money in primarly 1988-and-prior $100's (no thread), would you be comfortable accepting this?