The new $100 bill, that was originally due out in 2011, was unveiled on Tuesday complete with new security markers and with a lot of the older characteristics intact.

Delays to the release of the new bill that was due to hit the streets three years ago were attributed to problems with the security measures that caused creases to the new bills during printing. These creases caused the blank spots to be left after the printing process was complete. Another delay was caused by too much ink being laid down on the paper.

New to this bill is a blue security ribbon with small pictures of the liberty bells and “100” throughout in a darker hue of the blue. Color shifting ink was also utilized for the large 100 on the back of the bill as well as one of the 100s on the front.The bronze inkwell with a liberty bell inside also utilizes the color shifting ink.

like the older bill, currently on the streets, this new bill will have the familiar portrait of Benjamin Franklin, but will be devoid of the oval surrounding the image. Franklin’s image also has raised printing which can be felt when running your finger over the portrait. Franklin’s image has other new features as well. If looked at closely, the words “The United States of America” can be seen around Franklin’s jacket collar.

The feather quill, seen to Franklin’s left, utilizes micro-printing as well. Along that quill can be seen the words “One Hundred USA.”

Another security measure that will force counterfeiters to redesign plates used to print fake money is the radical change made to Independence Hall. Previous bills showed that famous hall from the front. In this new bill, Independence Hall is viewed from behind.

Although this new bill costs considerably more to print than the older version, at 12.7 cents per bill versus the 7.8 cents per bill of the previous version, the costly changes to the $100 bill was necessary to thwart would-be counterfeiters.

There are roughly 8.6 billion $100 bills circulating around the globe, making the hundred dollar bill the second most circulated bill in existence. It is second only to the one dollar bill.

Like all previous paper currency for the last 150 years, this new $100 bill is printed on paper provided by Crane and company based in Dalton, Massachusetts. The company’s founder, Stephan Crane first provided paper for notes issued to soldiers in 1776 under the company name of the Liberty Paper Mill. Crane and Company became the sole provider for currency paper for the US in 1879.