Real vs. Fake $10 Bill: 13 Security Features to Look For

A guide to quickly identifying real and fake $10 bills

Co-authored by Bailey Cho

Last Updated: December 21, 2024 Fact Checked

With the rise in technology, it’s much easier to print a counterfeit bill than ever before, but that doesn’t make it impossible to differentiate a fake $10 bill from a genuine one. The U.S. government has implemented several security features on its currency, and as long as you know what to look for, you’ll be able to spot the signs of a counterfeit in no time! Keep reading for an in-depth guide on how to examine your bill’s watermark, security thread, ink, and more.

Identifying a Real $10 Bill

A real $10 bill has an embedded security thread that glows orange under UV light. Hold the bill to the light and look for a faint watermark of Secretary Hamilton on both sides of the bill. Tilt the bill to check that the numeral 10 in the lower right-hand corner shifts from copper to green.

1

Watermark

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Ensure there’s a watermark of Secretary Hamilton on both sides of the bill. Hold the $10 bill to light and make sure there's a faint image of Secretary Hamilton in the unprinted space to the right of his portrait. It will be visible on both sides of the bill.^{[1]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills do not have a watermark when held to a light that is visible on both sides. The watermark portrait usually does not match the portrait on the bill either.^{[2]
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2

Security Thread

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Hold the bill to light to check for an embedded security thread in the paper. The thread runs vertically to the right of Secretary Hamilton’s portrait, with the text “USA TEN” and a small flag in an alternating pattern. It will be visible on both sides of the bill, and it will also glow orange when illuminated by UV light.^{[3]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills do not glow orange under UV light. However, the thread text may be recreated.^{[4]
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3

Color-Shifting Ink

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Tilt the bill to see the numeral 10 on the front shift from copper to green. On authentic $10 bills, the numeral 10 in the lower right-hand corner changes color from copper to green when tilted back and forth. This color shift is even more dramatic on new-series bills.^{[5]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills usually don’t feature this color-shifting ink.^{[6]
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4

Symbols of Freedom

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Look for 2 red torches on the front of the bill. On a genuine $10 bill, a large image of the torch is printed in the background to the left of Secretary Hamilton’s portrait. A second, smaller metallic red torch is printed on the lower right-hand side of his portrait.^{[7]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills usually cannot reproduce the details and crispness of genuine bills, so the images may look blurred, dull, or flat.^{[8]
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5

Federal Reserve System Seal

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Make sure there is a black seal to the left of Secretary Hamilton’s portrait. This circular seal represents the entire Federal Reserve System. On bills issued between 1990 and 2000, the seal features the name and corresponding letter of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank. On newer bills issued since 2006 and onward, the seal features an eagle perched on top of a crest, surrounded with the text “UNITED STATES FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM.”^{[9]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills include seals that have uneven, blunt, or broken-tooth saw points.^{[10]
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6

Treasury Seal

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Look for a green seal to the right of Secretary Hamilton’s portrait. This circular seal represents the U.S. Department of Treasury. It features an image of balancing scales, a key, and a chevon with 13 stars, as well as the text “THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY” and “1789” along the border.^{[11]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills have saw tooth points near the border of the seal that are not as sharp or defined as genuine bills.^{[12]
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7

Portrait and Vignette

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Ensure there aren’t any borders or fine lines around the portrait or vignette. If you have a bill issued from 2006 and onward, check that Secretary Hamilton’s shoulders extend all the way to the bottom edge of the border and his head reaches about half-way into the top border. The image of the United States Treasury building on the back of the bill will also be taken from the front of the building, with the blank space surrounding the building.^{[13]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills include portraits that look lifeless and flat. The details merge into the background, which is usually too dark or mottled.^{[14]
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- On bills issued from 1990 to 2000, Secretary Hamilton’s portrait features an oval border. The image of the Treasury Building looks like it’s taken from the right wide, with a decorative border surrounding the building.^{[15]
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8

Serial Numbers

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Look for a combination of 11 numbers and letters on the front of the bill. This unique serial number appears twice on the front of the bill—once in the upper left-hand corner and once below the treasury seal. The first letter of the serial number on bills from 1996 and later correspond to the series year: E = 2004, G = 2004A, I = 2006, J = 2009, and L = 2009A.^{[16]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills may include a unique serial number, but the numbers and letters may not be evenly spaced or aligned.^{[17]
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9

Microprinting

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Use a magnifying glass to look for small printed text on the front of the bill. The text is located around the border of the bill in 3 areas: the phrase “USA 10” is repeated underneath the large printed torch, and the words “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “TEN DOLLARS USA” are located below Secretary Hamilton’s portrait, as well as vertically inside the left and right borders of the bill.^{[18]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills usually cannot replicate the microprinting on genuine bills because the text is so small.^{[19]
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10

Raised Printing

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Move your finger along the surface of the bill to feel for raised printing. Run your fingernails over the portrait’s vest of the bill and check for distinctive ridges.^{[20]
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Research source} Real Federal Reserve bills include ink that is slightly raised, which most counterfeiters cannot reproduce.
- Fake: Counterfeit $10 bills feel smooth or flat.^{[21]
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11

Paper

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Check for small red and blue security fibers throughout the paper. All Federal Reserve note paper is made of 25% linen and 75% cotton, with random flecks of red and blue security fibers embedded throughout.^{[22]
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Research source} This can be difficult to detect with the naked eye, so inspect the bill with a magnifying glass if needed. Additionally, real money has a distinct texture that is slightly rough to the touch, and it’s designed to feel crisp with age.^{[23]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills are typically made from regular paper, which becomes torn and soft with age. They may include red and blue fibers printed on the paper, but they are not embedded in the paper itself.^{[24]
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12

Color

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Look for orange, yellow, and red colors in the background of the bill. If you have a newer bill issued in 2006 or onward, make sure the 2 torches and “We the People from the United States Constitution” text in the background of the bill are printed red. There will also be small yellow 10s printed in the background to the left of the portrait on the front of the bill, as well as to the right of the vignette on the back of the bill.^{[25]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills may feature these 3 colors, but the colors will look brighter or darker. Compare a genuine bill with one that you suspect is fake to see if the shades match.^{[26]
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- Authentic $10 bills issued between 1990 and 2000 only include black and green ink. The only color on the bill is the security thread that glows orange under UV light.^{[27]
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13

Green 10

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Look for a large green numeral 10 on the back of the bill. If you have a newer bill issued in 2006 or forward, the numeral 10 in the lower right-hand corner is slightly larger to help those with visual impairments identify the bill.^{[28]
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Research source} On older bills issued between 1990 to 2000, all 4 numerals in the corners of the bill are the same size.^{[29]
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- Fake: Counterfeit bills may not enlarge the numeral 10 on the back of the bill.

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Tips

If you suspect you have a counterfeit bill, do not return it to the person who gave it to you. Write down their details, such as their physical description and the license plate number of their vehicle. Then, contact your local police department or the United States Secret Service field office.^{[30]
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If you work with a lot of bills, consider buying a counterfeit money detector machine. It can quickly analyze watermarks, microprinting, and other security features, then alert you if your bill is fake.

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