$5 Bill (Series 1999, 2001, 2003 & 2003A)

The United States of America is issuing currency with new features. These features will help protect against technologies that could be used for counterfeiting. These $5 bills were first issued in Mid-2000. There will be no recall or devaluation of any U.S. currency. Old or new, all U.S. currency always will be honored at full face value.

Click here for information about the new currency designs.

1. Watermark - A watermark of Lincoln is located in the blank space to the right of the portrait and is visible from both side when held up to a light.
   
2. Security Thread - The thread is embedded to the left of the portrait running vertically through the universal Federal Reserve Seal. The words "USA FIVE" and a flag appear on the thread which glows blue under an ultraviolet light.
   
3. Fine Line Printing Patterns - The fine lines printed behind Lincoln's portrait and the Lincoln Memorial are difficult to replicate.
   
4. Microprinting - Because they're so small, microprinted words are hard to replicate. The words "FIVE DOLLARS" can be found in the side borders on the front of the note, while "The United States of America" appears along the lower edge ornamentation of the portrait's oval frame.
   
5. Color-Shifting Ink - There is no color-shifting ink on the $5.
   
6. Low-Vision Feature - The large numeral "5" in the lower right corner on the back of the $5 note is easy to read.

   Also, a machine-readable feature has been incorporated for the blind. It will facilitate development of convenient scanning devices that could identify the note as a $5.