$5 Note
Watermark
Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of three numeral 5s to the left of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.
Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 5 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows blue when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
Watermark
Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of a large numeral 5 in the blank space to the right of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.
Watermark
Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of three numeral 5s to the left of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.
Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 5 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows blue when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
Watermark
Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of a large numeral 5 in the blank space to the right of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.
Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the text USA FIVE and a small flag in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows blue when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
Watermark
Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of President Lincoln in the blank space to the right of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.
Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the text USA FIVE and a small flag in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows blue when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
Watermark
Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of President Lincoln in the blank space to the right of the portrait. The image is visible from both sides of the note.
Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the Federal Reserve Bank seal. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the word FIVE in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows blue when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
Microprinting
Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed words THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the outer edge of the portrait’s oval frame.
Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the Federal Reserve Bank seal. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the word FIVE in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows blue when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
Microprinting
Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed words THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the outer edge of the portrait’s oval frame.
Federal Reserve Bank Seal
A black seal to the left of the portrait bears the name of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank.
Raised Printing
Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.
Paper
Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers.
Portrait and Vignette
The $5 note features a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln on the front of the note. The vignette on the back of the note changed in 1929 to feature the Lincoln Memorial.
Treasury Seal
A seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury The design of the seal was changed to incorporate an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later.
Serial Numbers
A combination of numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.
Federal Reserve Bank Seal
A black seal to the left of the portrait bears the name of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank.
Raised Printing
Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.
Paper
Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers.
Portrait and Vignette
The $5 note features a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln on the front of the note. The vignette on the back of the note changed in 1929 to feature the Lincoln Memorial.
Treasury Seal
A seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury The design of the seal was changed to incorporate an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later.
Serial Numbers
A combination of numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.
The $5 note features subtle background colors of light purple and gray, and includes an embedded security thread that glows blue when illuminated by UV light. Two watermarks are featured in the $5 note, and they are visible from both sides of the note when held to light. Look for a vertical pattern of three numeral 5s to the left of the portrait and a large numeral 5 located in the blank space to the right of the portrait.
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Quick Reference Guide
$5 Note Life Cycle
Before a Federal Reserve note enters circulation, it must pass through four critical steps: design, order, production, and issuance.
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825.6Million Notes2018 FY Print Order
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$14.8Billion2017 Value in Circulation
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5.5YearsEstimated Lifespan