Slang for $100: Why It's Called a 'C-Note' and Other Surprising Money Nicknames

You hear it in songs, movies, and locker rooms—someone’s always flexing about a fat stack of “Benjamins.” But does anyone stop and ask, why the $100 bill has so many nicknames? And how on earth did a piece of green paper wind up being called a “C-note”? American money slang isn’t just fun to eavesdrop on—it’s a window into history, pop culture, and how we express value.

The Origins and Meaning Behind '$100' Slang Terms

If you toss out “C-note” or “Benjamin” in conversation, odds are people catch your drift—at least in North America. But let’s unpack where those $100 bill nicknames actually come from. The most high-profile nickname you'll hear is “Benjamin,” as in “all about the Benjamins.” Why? Because not so subtly, founding father Benjamin Franklin’s face is right there front and center on the $100 bill. So, if someone is showing off Benjamins, they’re bragging about having easy-to-recognize, high-value bills.

The oldest and arguably most classic term is the “C-note.” That one’s a little code-like, and it throws back to the Latin alphabet. The letter “C” stands for the Roman numeral 100. People have been calling it a “C-note” since at least the early 20th century, so it’s got some serious staying power. To be honest, if you’re watching any movie about old Vegas or underground gambling, someone’s probably going to throw out C-notes.

Plenty of other nicknames exist, but those are big ones. Sometimes, you might even hear “hundred-piece,” “one-hundred clams,” “yard,” or just a plain “bill.” And in music or on the streets, slipping someone “a hundo” definitely doesn’t need much interpretation. If you travel or hang out with people from different places, you’ll notice the language of cash changes almost like an accent. One guy from New York might say, “slip me a Benjamin,” while a Texas grandpa hands out “hundreds.”

There’s a fun bit of trivia here: over the decades, each new $100 bill design sparks new slang. When the redesigned bill with a big blue security strip hit the scene in 2013, some folks started calling it a “Big Face Benjamin” or even a “Blueface.” Slang changes with style.

Where Slang for the $100 Bill Shows Up in Culture

The reason $100 bill slang is everywhere is simple: bragging rights and symbolism. If you look at pop culture, especially American hip hop, “Benjamins” isn’t just money—it’s the mark of making it. That’s why Puff Daddy’s famous track “It’s All About the Benjamins” from 1997 practically turned the term from street talk into mainstream lingo overnight. After that, “Benjamin” was just as comfortable in a suburban brunch spot as a back-alley dice game.

In movies, gangster flicks, and TV shows, dropping a C-note under the table means serious business. Even outside crime dramas, you’ll hear it in passing—sports announcers, sitcom parents sneaking out cash, or even at casino tables. It’s seeped into the everyday just as much as the classic dollar-bill tip.

Sports culture loves a good money nickname. Ask any seasoned poker player in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, and they’ll tell you all about “Benjamins.” In fact, pro tournaments often talk about buy-ins in “C-notes” because it just sounds slicker than saying “one hundred dollars” over and over. Betting pools, informal workplace competitions, even little league dads—everyone’s chasing that stack of hundreds.

And kid you not, money slang finds its way into family dinners too. I remember joking with my son Tatum that if he aced another math test, he might just see a C-note come birthday time. Unsurprisingly, he suddenly got a score he couldn’t wait to show off. Gotta hand it to American culture; make something sound cool, and it suddenly holds more power than just “$100.”

How to Spot a C-Note (and Not Get Fooled)

So, what does a real C-note actually look like these days? Since 2013, the design of the $100 bill packs in security features designed both to show off and defend against counterfeiting. The newest bills have a large, off-center portrait of Benjamin Franklin, and that thick blue 3D security ribbon running vertically through the front. If you tilt the bill, the ribbon appears to show moving bells and 100s—pretty slick, honestly.

Here’s a quick guide to spotting real Benjamins and avoiding funny money:

• Look for the blue 3D security ribbon. When you tilt the bill, the effects move up and down—real counterfeits don’t have that depth.
• The watermark of Franklin’s portrait is visible from either side if you hold it up to the light.
• Check for color-shifting ink. The numeral 100 in the lower right corner on the front shifts from copper to green as you tilt it.
• The embedded security thread glows pink under ultraviolet light. If someone tries to hand you cash in a club with blacklights, this is your secret weapon.
• Some older $100s are still floating around. These don’t have the blue ribbon but do have separate security features: security thread, color-shifting ink, and a faint security stripe.

Counterfeit $100 bills have always been big business, because, unsurprisingly, crooks love the highest denominations. In 2021, U.S. Secret Service reported that over $40 million in fake $100 bills were seized—but tricks like the ones above mean you don’t have to get caught out by a scam.

Here’s a table showing the main security features to check at a glance:

You can catch almost every fake by checking those five points. Next time you see a “C-note,” don’t just flash it—give it a once-over. Benjamins deserve the respect.

Why Money Slang Sticks—and How to Use It Like a Native

So, why does money slang like “C-note” and “Benjamin” hold on for decades, outliving fads and, honestly, most politicians? The answer is part practicality and part swagger. High denomination bills always attract special attention, and their nicknames just sound way cooler than the dry numbers. It’s shorthand that signals you’re in the know.

If you’re traveling, meeting new people, or just picking up on conversations, picking up these terms can make you sound a little less touristy and a little more tuned-in. Some tips for using $100 bill slang without coming off awkward:

• Context matters a lot. A C-note in poker or betting circles feels natural, but in formal settings, just say “one hundred dollars.”
• Don’t overdo it—unless you’re starring in a rap video, slipping “Benjamin” into every other sentence gets old fast.
• Listen for new terms. Slang evolves: what’s hip now may shift. Some younger crowds lean into “blueface” for those new designs.
• When giving cash as a gift or for a special occasion, dropping in the slang can make it more fun. “Your birthday’s big enough for a C-note!” sounds friendlier than, “Here’s one hundred dollars.”
• If you’re a parent, using a little playful money slang with your kids or teens keeps conversations breezy. And trust me, they’ll remember it next time they hear a pop song drop the word.

Money slang does something special—it builds community and signals belonging, whether you’re spending, saving, or just daydreaming about a sudden windfall. Next time you hear anyone showing off about their “C-notes,” just smile. Now you’re in on the secret, too.

If there’s a single thing to remember, it’s that “slang for $100” isn’t just about sounding cool. It’s a shortcut into stories, status, and a little slice of cultural history. And while the tech world pushes us more cashless every year, the magic of holding a crisp Benjamin—slang and all—might just outlast all of it.slang for $100. Keep your ear out. Who knows what the next generation will call it?