Mathew Brady's February 9, 1864, portrait of Lincoln is used for the current $5 bill (series 1999 issue and later).[2]
TheUnited States five-dollar bill (US$5) is adenomination ofUnited States currency. The current $5 bill features U.S. presidentAbraham Lincoln and the coat of arms of United States on the front and theLincoln Memorial on the back. All $5 bills issued today areFederal Reserve Notes. As of December 2018[update], the average life of a $5 bill incirculation is 4.7 years before it is replaced due to wear.[3] Approximately 6% of all paper currency produced by the U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 2009 were $5 bills.[4]
The note was formerly nicknamed a "fin", a term fromYiddish פֿינף (finf), פֿינעף (finef), meaning "five;" this term derived fromunderworld slang and originally referred to theBritish five-pound note. It was first recorded being used to refer to the American bill in 1925.[5][6] It is also occasionally referred to as a “fiver”.[7]
New and enhanced security features make it easier to check the new $5 bill and more difficult for potential counterfeiters to reproduce. The redesigned $5 bill has:[citation needed]
Watermarks: There are now two watermarks. A large numeral "5" watermark is located in a blank space to the right of the portrait, replacing the watermark portrait of President Lincoln found on previous bills. A second watermark — a new column of three smaller "5"s — has been added and is positioned to the left of the portrait.
Security thread: The embedded security thread runs vertically and is now located to the right of the portrait. The letters "USA" followed by the number "5" in an alternating pattern are visible along the thread from both sides of the bill. The thread glows blue when held under ultraviolet light (blacklight).[10]
Microprinting: The redesigned $5 bill featuresmicroprinting, which is the engraving of tiny text, on the front of the bill in three areas: the words "FIVE DOLLARS" can be found repeated inside the left and right borders of the bill; the words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" appear at the top of the shield within the Great Seal; and the word "USA" is repeated in between the columns of the shield. On the back of the bill the words "USA FIVE" appear along one edge of the large purple "5". Because they are so small, these microprinted words are hard to replicate.
Red and Blue Threads: Some small red and blue threads are embedded into the paper to reveal if a higher denomination counterfeit bill has been printed on the bleached paper of a genuine lower denomination bill.
The reverse of the five-dollar bill has two rectangular strips that are blanked out when viewed in the infrared spectrum, as seen in this image taken by an infrared camera.
Infrared Ink: The back of the five-dollar bill features sections of the bill that are blanked out when viewed in theinfrared spectrum. This is consistent with other high-value US bills ($5 and up), which all feature patterns of infrared-visible stripes unique to the given denomination. Bills of other world currencies, such as theEuro, also feature unique patterns visible only when viewed in this spectrum.
Anti-Photocopy Circle Pattern: Small yellow "05"s are printed to the left of the portrait on the front of the bill and to the right of the Lincoln Memorial vignette on the back. The zeros in the "05"s form a "EURion constellation" to prevent photocopying of the bill. Photocopy machines detect the particular pattern of yellow circles and refuse to make a copy. Some machines make a record of the illegal photocopy attempt, which a repair technician may report to law enforcement.
The new $5 bills remain the same size and use the same—but enhanced—portraits and historical images. The most noticeable difference is the light-purple coloring of the center of the bill, which blends into gray near the edges.[citation needed]
Similar to the recently redesigned $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills, the new $5 bill features an American symbol of freedom printed in the background: TheGreat Seal of the United States, featuring an eagle and shield, is printed in purple to the right of the portrait and an arc of purple stars surround both it and the portrait.[citation needed]
When the Lincoln Memorial was constructed the names of 48 states were engraved on it. The picture of the Lincoln Memorial on the $5 bill only contains the names of 26 states. These are the 26 states that can be seen on the front side of the Lincoln memorial which is what is pictured on the $5 bill.[citation needed]
On the back of the bill, a larger, purple numeral "5" appears in the lower right corner to help those with visual impairments to distinguish the denomination. This large "5" also includes the words "USA FIVE" in tiny white letters.[citation needed]
The oval borders around President Lincoln's portrait on the front, and the Lincoln Memorial vignette on the back have been removed. Both engravings have been enhanced.[citation needed]
On April 20, 2016,Treasury SecretaryJacob Lew announced that the $5, $10, and $20 would all undergo redesign prior to 2020. The changes would add new features to combat counterfeiting and make them easier for blind citizens to distinguish. Lew said that while Lincoln would remain on the obverse, the reverse would be redesigned to depict various historical events that had occurred at the Lincoln Memorial. Among the planned designs are images fromMartin Luther King Jr. giving his 1963 speech "I Have a Dream" and the1939 concert by opera singerMarian Anderson.[11][12][13] As of January 2021[update], the Treasury has continued work on the $20 bill; the redesigns of the $5 and $10 were not mentioned.[14]
1861: The first $5 bill was issued as aDemand Note with a small portrait ofAlexander Hamilton on the right and anallegorical statue representing freedom on the left side of the obverse.
1862: The first $5United States Note was issued with a face design similar to the previous Demand Note and a completely revised reverse.
1869: A new $5 United States Note was issued with a small portrait ofAndrew Jackson on the left and avignette of a pioneer family in the middle.
1870:National Gold Bank Notes were issued specifically for payment in gold coin by participating banks. The obverse featured vignettes ofChristopher Columbus sighting land and Columbus with an Indian Princess; the reverse featured US gold coins.
1875: The series 1869 United States Note was revised. The green tinting that was present on the obverse was removed and the design on the reverse was completely changed.
1882: A year afterJames A. Garfield was assassinated, a new National Bank Note with his portrait was issued, also featuring a blue seal. Two different varieties were issued, one with a brown back and another with a green back. The brown back had an image of an eagle on the right, while the green back featured George Washington on the reverse.
1890: Five-dollar Treasury or "Coin Notes" were issued and given for government purchases of silver bullion from the silver mining industry. The reverse featured an ornate design that occupied almost the entire note.
1891: The reverse of the 1890 Treasury Note was redesigned because the treasury felt that it was too "busy" which would make it too easy tocounterfeit.
1891: The reverse of the 1886 Silver Certificate was revised; the 5 Morgan silver dollars were removed.
1902: Another large size National Banknote was issued and had a portrait ofBenjamin Harrison on the obverse. The notes had red or blue seals.
1914: The first $5Federal Reserve Note was issued with a portrait ofLincoln on the obverse and vignettes of Columbus sighting land and the Pilgrims' landing on the reverse. The note initially had a redtreasury seal and serial numbers; however, they were changed to blue.
1915:Federal Reserve Bank Notes (not to be confused with Federal Reserve Notes) were issued by 5 Federal Reserve Banks. The obverse was similar to the 1914 Federal Reserve Notes, except for large wording in the middle of the bill and a portrait with no border on the left side of the bill. Each note was an obligation of the issuing bank and could only be redeemed at the corresponding bank.
1918: The 1915 Federal Reserve Bank Note was re-issued under series 1918 by 11 Federal Reserve banks.
1923: The $5 silver certificate was redesigned; it was nicknamed a "porthole" note due to the circular wording ofTHE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around Lincoln's portrait. The reverse featured theGreat Seal of the United States.
The first small-size$5 United States Note printed (Smithsonian)Hawaii overprint noteThe first 1953$5 Silver Certificate printed (Smithsonian)
1929: Under theSeries of 1928, allsmall-sized notes carried a standardized design. All$5 bills would feature a portrait of Lincoln, the same border design on theobverse, and the Lincoln Memorial on thereverse. The$5 bill was issued as aUnited States Note with a red seal and serial numbers and as aFederal Reserve Note with a green seal and serial numbers.
1933: As an emergency response to theGreat Depression, additional money was pumped into the American economy through Federal Reserve Bank Notes. This was the only small-sized$5 bill that had a different border design and featured a brown treasury seal and serial numbers.
1934: The redeemable in gold clause was removed from Federal Reserve Notes due to the U.S. withdrawing from thegold standard.
1934: The first$5silver certificates were issued with a blue seal and serial numbers along with a blue numeral 5 on the left side of the obverse.
1942: SpecialWorld War IIcurrency was issued.HAWAII was overprinted on the front and back of the$5 Federal Reserve Note; the serial numbers, and seal, were changed to brown from green. This was done so that the currency could be declared worthless in the event of aJapanese invasion. A$5 silver certificate with a yellow, rather than blue, treasury seal was printed for use by U.S. troops in North Africa. These notes, too, could be declared worthless if seized by the enemy.
1950: Many minor aspects on the obverse of the$5 Federal Reserve Note were changed. Most noticeably, the treasury and Federal Reserve seals and the gray wordFIVE, were made smaller.
1953: New$5 United States Notes and Silver Certificates were issued with a gray numeral 5 on the left side of the bill and the grayFIVE with a blue seal imprinted over it on the right and blue serial numbers.
1963: Both the$5 United States Note and Federal Reserve Note were revised with the mottoIN GOD WE TRUST added to the reverse andWILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND removed from the obverse. Also, the obligation on the Federal Reserve Note was shortened to its current wording,THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. Also during this time, production of Silver Certificates end, including the$5.
1966: Production of the$5 United States Note ends.
1969: The$5 bill began using the new treasury seal with wording inEnglish instead ofLatin.
1992: The first notes at the Western Currency Facility inFort Worth, Texas begin printing in July, during production of Series 1988A.
1994: Series 1993 $5 notes received new-age anti-counterfeiting measures, featuring microscopic printing around Lincoln's portrait and a plastic security strip on the left side of the bill.[15]
May 24, 2000:To combat evolvingcounterfeiting, a new$5 note, the first complete redesign since 1929, was issued as Series 1999 whose design was similar in style to the$100,$50,$20, and$10 bills that had all undergone previous design changes. The$5 bill, however, does not feature color-shifting ink like the higher denominations. The first notes were printed in December, 1999.[16]
June 28, 2006:The BEP announced plans to redesign the$5 note, likely with similar features as newer$10,$20, and$50 notes.
September 20, 2007:The BEP revealed the redesigned$5 note to the public.
October 2007:The first redesigned$5 notes are printed.[17]
March 13, 2008:The redesigned$5 note enters circulation.
Friedberg, Arthur; Ira Friedberg; David Bowers (2005).A Guide Book Of United States Paper Money: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices (Official Red Book). Whitman Publishing.ISBN0-7948-1786-6.
