Alexander Hamilton Gets a Makeover

"The new $10 note design continues the U.S. Government's efforts to make our currency safer, smarter, and more secure," Dawn Haley of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing said in a statement announcing the new bill. "Not only is the new $10 state-of-the-art, it's also a beautifully designed currency note and we're confident the public will agree." The new bill -- still featuring the visage of Alexander Hamilton, the first Treasury Secretary -- is expected to be in circulation early next year.

"The intention was not to create a counterfeit-proof note -- which is basically impossible -- but one that's harder to duplicate and easier to authenticate," said Eric Zahren, spokesman for the Secret Service. "The new designs have definitely improved upon our efforts in detection and enforcement." The new features are necessary because printing has improved dramatically in recent years with digital technology.

*****

The $10 features three major security improvements. The color of the ink on the lower right side changes from copper to green when the bill is shifted under the light. U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral used the phrase "Tilt your ten" to teach people about the new feature. Holding the bill up to light reveals the second security feature: a faint image, or watermark, on the right of Alexander Hamilton. Finally, there is a security thread running through the bill that says "USA Ten" when held to the light.