1988 $100 Bill Value
A 1988 $100 bill is a modern Federal Reserve Note with the old small-portrait design. Two series exist, 1988 and 1988A. Neither is scarce, and a circulated example is worth exactly what it says on the face.
Uncirculated notes carry a real premium because very few people set aside a hundred dollar bill and left it untouched for decades. Star notes and unusual serials add on top of that.
Quick facts
- Type
- Federal Reserve Note
- Series
- 1988, 1988A
- Seal and serials
- Green
- Design
- Small portrait, pre-1996 style
- Security features
- None of the modern thread, watermark, or color-shift features
1988 $100 Bill value by condition
| Condition | Estimated value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Circulated | $100 | Face value |
| About uncirculated | $105 to $125 | |
| Crisp uncirculated | $130 to $220 | |
| Star note, circulated | $110 to $160 | |
| Star note, uncirculated | $200 to $700 | Small district runs highest |
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- Reads the series, seal type, and signatures from a photo
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- Works on US and world banknotes
The last of the old hundreds
The 1988 and 1990 series bracket the end of the traditional hundred dollar bill. The 1990 series added a security thread and microprinting; the 1996 series moved to the large off-center portrait. A 1988 note has none of that.
For anyone assembling a type set of modern US currency, the 1988 is the clean example of the final unmodified design, which is what supports its uncirculated premium.
Checking authenticity on a high denomination note
Because the 1988 has no thread and no watermark, verifying it takes a closer look than a modern note does. Genuine paper contains embedded red and blue fibers that sit in the paper rather than on it, and the intaglio printing on the portrait and border feels raised under a fingertip.
The engraving detail is the strongest tell. On a real note Franklin's hair and the fine lines behind the portrait resolve cleanly under magnification. Counterfeits blur there first.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 1988 $100 bill still valid?
Yes. All US currency issued since 1861 remains legal tender regardless of series year or design.
Will a bank accept a 1988 $100 bill?
Yes, though a teller unfamiliar with the older design may take extra time to verify it. It is worth at least face value at any bank.
Is my 1988 $100 worth more than $100?
Only if it is uncirculated, has a star, or has an unusual serial number. A folded, circulated example is worth exactly $100.