Worker in Shock as Customer Pays With Almost Century-Old $100 Bill

A worker was shocked to discover that a customer paid with an almost century-old $100 bill this week.

The average lifespan of a bill is 15 years, meaning this 1934 $100 bill has outlasted expectations by far.

As shown in the now-viral image, the bill was worn and aged to a yellow-toned color in comparison to the modern, far-greener bill. Like today's bill, it featured Benjamin Franklin on the front and is only slightly different in size.

The worker, who is based in Florida and known only by his first name Ryan, shared the bill to Subreddit "Mildly Interesting" where it gained 80,000 upvotes. "A customer at my work paid with a series 1934 $100 bill," he wrote.

He confirmed that he was not the one who did the transaction, but is sure the note is still accepted as legal tender.

For now, the bill is out of circulation, with Ryan placing it in a safe instead of a till. "I didn't keep it but I did take it out of our deposit to keep in the safe as a 'cool' piece for now," he wrote.

According to reports, $100 in 1934 is equivalent in purchasing power to around $2,211 today, in line with inflation.

Text on the $100 bill from 1934 reads: "The United States of America will pay to the bearer on demand one hundred dollars" and "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private, and is redeemable in lawful money at the United States Treasury, or at any Federal Reserve bank."

All series of 1934 $100 bills were printed in Washington D.C., but were reportedly issued for all 12 Federal Reserve Districts.

Unfortunately for the worker, a 1934 $100 bill isn't likely to render him a fortune, with many, especially those in poor condition, being worth just face-value, according to Old Currency Values.

"Any 1934 $100 bill that isn't in perfect condition is only worth the face value of $100. 1934 green seal one hundred dollar bills in perfect condition will carry a slight premium," they report. The bills with stars at the end of the serial number, or serial numbers with six or seven leading zeros, can be worth a lot more, however.

Reddit users were still left impressed by the find, with some sharing similar stories from their workplaces.

"I work at a gas station. One time, a kid (still of legal age, just young) came in and bought a pack of smokes with coins. Silver coins. Every single one of them. I immediately bought the change, then went to a coin shop the next day. I got 90 dollars from the coins," shared one user.

"Bartending in college some guy was spending $50's from the 1960's and 1970's like a drunken sailor. Judging from his tattoos I'm guessing he just got out of prison and dug up his old loot," added another.