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To check a current-design $20 bill, feel the raised printing, tilt the front lower-right 20, and hold the note to light to examine its watermark and security thread. The features should agree with both the denomination and the design—not merely be present.
The checks below apply first to the green-and-peach $20 design introduced in 2003. An older-looking bill needs a different comparison, not an automatic rejection. This guide helps you check a note; it does not certify one as genuine.
Where to check a current-design $20 bill
Hold the bill with Andrew Jackson's portrait facing you. All left/right directions below refer to this front view.
Move your finger across Jackson's collar to feel for the slightly rough texture of raised printing. Treat it as one clue alongside the other features. The U.S. Currency Education Program's $20 guide shows the design and its security features.
1. Tilt the 20 at the lower-right corner
Watch the numeral on the front, not the large green number on the back. On the current design, it changes between copper and green as you tilt the bill. Change the viewing angle so you are checking a color shift, not simply noticing that the ink is green.
2. Look for Jackson's watermark on the right
Hold the note up to an ordinary light source. In the blank area to the right of the printed portrait, look for a faint image of Andrew Jackson. It should be visible when viewed from either side of the paper.
3. Find the security thread on the left
With light passing through the note, look for a vertical thread embedded to the left of the portrait. It carries USA TWENTY and a small flag in an alternating pattern, visible from both sides. Check what the thread says, not just whether a line is there. These positions and expected results appear in the official current-design $20 reference.
What should a $20 bill look like under UV light?
The $20 security thread fluoresces green under ultraviolet light. That is a check of the thread—not a rule that the whole bill should glow green. See the official $20 quick-check brochure.
Keep the two light checks separate:
- Ordinary transmitted light: look through the paper for the portrait watermark and the thread's location and text.
- UV illumination: inspect the security thread's fluorescent color.
A UV observation does not tell you whether you checked the correct watermark or saw the correct color shift. Pair it with the other features instead of using it as the entire decision.
If you want a tool for these inspections, explore RIBAOSTORE's counterfeit detector collection and check the individual product's documented functions.
Is an older $20 bill fake if it looks different?
No. Authentic older U.S. currency remains legal tender. The important question is whether the features match that bill's design. The official $20 design history provides references for earlier notes.
For the $20 design issued from 1998 to 2003, the front lower-right numeral changes between green and black, rather than copper and green. It still has Jackson's watermark on the right and a security thread on the left, with USA TWENTY and a small flag. Its thread also glows green under UV. Use the official 1998–2003 $20 reference for the visual comparison.
Those dates describe when the design was issued, not the Series year printed on every note. For example, that older design includes Series 1996. Do not sort bills into designs using a simple “before or after 2003” Series-year rule.
Earlier small-portrait $20 designs do not all have the same features as the two large-portrait versions above. If the design is unfamiliar, find its matching official reference or ask a manager to help. Compare like with like: the same denomination and the same design.
When the checks do not agree
A useful way to review a questionable $20 is to ask: “Does this feature belong on this version of a twenty?” That is more informative than checking off “watermark found” or “thread found.”
- A feature identifies a different denomination. On the two large-portrait designs described above, the watermark should be Jackson and the thread should identify twenty dollars. A conflicting portrait or denomination is a reason to pause and seek review, even if the paper feels convincing.
- You cannot see a feature clearly. First confirm which design you have and which light check you are performing. If uncertainty remains, do not turn “I cannot verify this” into either “definitely fake” or “safe to accept.” Ask for a second check.
A pen mark should not overrule conflicting security features. The Federal Reserve cautions that counterfeit-detection pens can give inaccurate results. A light-colored mark is not a reason to skip the $20-specific checks.
What if you are still unsure about the $20?
Pause acceptance and ask a manager to review the note under your store's procedure. An unverified note is not automatically counterfeit, and uncertainty about the note does not establish the customer's intent.
If your store has already received a suspected counterfeit, follow its reporting procedure and the current official reporting guidance. Do not knowingly pass counterfeit currency to someone else.
Managers building a complete staff process can use our cashier counterfeit-awareness training guide.