Top quality counterfeit. The $100 bill is popular with people all over the world, and not just drug dealers and corrupt government officials. (See also: 10 Ways to Save $100 This Week)

In addition, places where the local currency is prone to inflation or currency controls, the dollar is widely viewed as an attractive alternative. Places where the banking system isn't viewed as sound, actual cash money is an obvious alternative. When those two places overlap, the $100 bill is very popular as a safe way to store wealth. Popular enough, in fact, that nearly two-thirds of all $100 bills are held abroad, according to Federal Reserve estimates.

Furthermore, This is a big subsidy for the U.S. Every one of those $100 bills got overseas by someone providing $100 worth of goods or services to someone in the U.S. For as long as the bill remains overseas, it amounts to an interest-free loan of $100 to the U.S. economy.

Maintaining this situation, where the U.S. gets a $500 billion interest-free loan, depends most particularly in confidence in the security features of the $100 bill. A lot of that currency is being held by individuals who don't trust their own governments or their own banks, and those people need to be able to verify that a $100 bill is genuine on their own. (See also: The Best and Worst Places to Stash Cash)

Fortunately, the new $100 has security features to make that easy.

New security features in Top quality counterfeit

has two new security features, both of which are obvious when you see the new $100.

3D safety tap

A wide blue tape woven on the paper, just to the right of Franklin's face. When you tilt the banknote, the bell image will change to 100 images, and the images will move up and down on the tape

The bell in the ink bottle.

The image of the ink bottle is printed with copper ink. The image of the bell inside the ink bottle is printed with color-changing ink. The color will change from copper to green. As a result, by tilting the banknote, the image of the bell appears and disappears in the ink tank. Top quality counterfeit

Plus Some Old Security Features

Several of the old security features you're used to are still viewed as effective and have been retained on the new bill.

Portrait Watermark

On all the bills larger than the $5, the watermark is the same as the portrait on the bill — on the $100 that's Benjamin Franklin.

Security Thread

On all the bills larger than the $2, there's a security thread running vertically through the fabric of the bill. On the $100, it runs between Ben's face and the Federal Reserve seal, and says USA 100. buy now

Color-Shifting Ink

On all the bills larger than the $5, the denomination on the lower right of the front of the bill is printed in color shifting ink. On the new $100 the color shifts from green to copper as you tilt the bill.

Microprinting

All the new notes feature micro printing, which is hard to reproduce without genuine engraved plates and printing presses. On the new $100 there are repeated "USA" along the bottom of the note in Franklin's jacket. It says, "The United States of America" along his collar, "USA 100" around the blank space containing the watermark, and "One Hundred USA" along the golden quill. Top quality counterfeit

Raised Printing in Top quality counterfeit

All US currency is printed with a technique called "intaglio" that leaves the ink on the surface of the paper, giving it a distinctive feel. The Treasury's newmoney.gov website has videos, posters, and brochures on using the security features of all the new US currency.