What Is a C-Note?
"C-note" is a slang term for a $100 banknote in U.S. currency. The "C" in C-note refers to the Roman numeral for 100, which was printed on $100 bills, and it can also refer to a century. The term came to prominence in the 1920s and 1930s, and it was popularized in a number of gangster films.
Key Takeaways
- "C-note" is slang for a $100 bill.
- The term was derived from the Roman numeral "C" for 100.
- The $100 bill once had a capital "C" in its upper-left corner.
Understanding C-Notes
"C-note" is used less frequently in contemporary slang, and it has been replaced by "Benjamin." This term comes from Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the U.S., whose portrait is on the front of the $100 banknote. Other slang terms for a $100 bill are, therefore, "Franklins" and "Bens."
The Evolution of C-Notes
The $100 bill featured a capital "C" in its upper-left corner from 1869 to 1914, denoting the Roman numeral for 100. In 1914, the U.S. government introduced Federal Reserve notes to replace older Treasury notes. The 1878 and 1880 editions featured a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the left. The 1890 version of the C-note featured Adm. David Farragut to the right side. On the backs of the Farragut banknotes were two zeros that looked like watermelons, hence the nickname "watermelon notes."
Contemporary $100 Bills
Contemporary $100 bills show an enlarged portrait of Franklin on the front and a "100" in each corner. The "100" in the bottom right corner changes color depending on what angle the light hits it. A blue 3-D motion strip runs down the middle to try to prevent counterfeiting, and a watermarked portrait of Franklin appears on the right side when the banknote is held up to the light. The $100 bill has been the largest printed denomination since 1969. Larger bills, such as the $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills were previously retired.
Special Considerations
The estimated lifespan of a $100 bill is around 23 years—if it stays in circulation for that long. The average lifespan of a $1 banknote, in contrast, is just 6.5 years. It's estimated that roughly two-thirds of $100 bills in circulation circulate outside the U.S.
There were around 18.5 billion $100 bills in circulation in 2022, valued at about $1.84 trillion. Around 14.3 billion $1 bills are in circulation, which is below the number of $100 bills. The number of C-notes in circulation has doubled since the 2007-2008 financial crisis. It's said that the rise in the use of $100 bills is a result of the rising mistrust of the financial system, with more individuals choosing to keep their assets outside the system.
The Federal Reserve System distributes $100 bills as the need for this value of currency runs in cycles. Demand peaks around the winter holidays and Lunar, or Chinese, New Year because crisp C-notes serve as good gifts inside of greeting cards. When the redesigned $100 bills came out in 2013, 28 reserve bank cash offices stockpiled 3.5 billion of the banknotes. Those bills went to some 9,000 banks as the revamped C-notes entered circulation for the first time.
FAQs
"C-note" is slang for a $100 bill. The term was derived from the Roman numeral "C" for 100.
What is the C-note? ›
noun. ˈsē-ˌnōt. Synonyms of C-note. : a 100-dollar bill.
What is a note in money slang? ›
A 'c-note' is $100 dollar bill. Probably from c as 'century'. A "g-note" is $1000 bill. From the other slang of a "grand" being $1000 (the amount, not the bill).
What is AC note in urban dictionary? ›
Urban Dictionary: C-Note refers to a 100 dollar bill. C is the abbreviation for Century which is a period of one hundred years. Notating the 100 on the bill 🤓🤓🤓
Why is the C note special? ›
The note C is visually clearer than an A to find on the keyboard first and middle C is an important marker you need to tell which octave to play in. The C major scale is the most useful scale to learn first on piano as being only white notes makes it easier to learn, play or read in that key.
What does C in money mean? ›
Cent (currency), abbreviated c. or ¢, a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic unit of many currencies. Caius or Gaius, abbreviated as C., a common Latin praenomen. Circa, abbreviated as c.
What does C note stand for? ›
plural C–notes. Britannica Dictionary definition of C–NOTE. [count] US, informal. : a 100-dollar bill. What are the meanings of especially and specially?
What is C language notes? ›
It is a very powerful and general-purpose language used in programming. We can use C to develop software such as databases, operating systems, compilers, and many more. This programming language is excellent to learn for beginners in programming.
What does c mean in slang? ›
C is slang for $100 dollars in the US, it derives from the same Latin word for 100 as century or centurion. The “c word". If a journalist writes, “they used the “c" word,” they would be reporting hearing an old anglo-saxon usage of a four letter word for female genitalia.
What is slang for a $20 bill? ›
Hello, 20 dollar bill simply means the 20$ note. However, the $20 bill is sometimes referred to as a "Jackson", or a "dub".
What Is Slang for a $50 Bill? "Grant" is one nickname for a $50 bill, which is adorned by the face of Ulysses S. Grant. "Half-yard" is another.
What is the slang C note? ›
C-note in American English
(ˈsiˌnoʊt ) US. noun. Slang. a one-hundred-dollar bill.
Why do they call him C note? ›
Benjamin's nickname "C-Note" is derived from the fact that he shares the same name as Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin is featured on the U.S. $100 bill, and "C-note" is a nickname for the bill.
What is the C level slang? ›
C-level, also called the C-suite, is a term used to describe high-ranking executive titles in an organization. The letter C, in this context, stands for "chief," as in chief executive officer and chief operating officer.
Why is $100 called AC note? ›
"C note" is a term used to refer to a $100 ("C" is the Roman numeral for "hundred"). $100 bills are also called "Benjamins" (or "Bennies" or "Benjis") or "Franklins," because they hold Benjamin Franklin's portrait.
What is the slang for $100 bills? ›
Benjamins. Benjamin Franklin has been on the $100 bill since 1914, and the slang Benjamins for $100 bills obviously references this fact. Less commonly, other dollar bills may also be referred to by the people depicted on them, such as Washingtons, Lincolns, Hamiltons, and Jacksons.