The New $5 Bill: Interactive Content from the Bureau of Engraving

The new $5 bill entered circulation this year. Explore the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's 5$ Interactive Bill content to find out how this bill has been redesigned to help foil counterfeiters.

About the Redesigned Currency
In order to stay ahead of counterfeiting, the United States government continues to redesign our paper money. A new $5 bill was issued on March 13, 2008. It will be followed by a new $100 bill. Redesigned $10, $20 and $50 bills are already in circulation.

The redesigned $5 bill retains two of the most important security features that were first introduced in the 1990s and are easy to check.

There are now two watermarks on the redesigned $5 bill. A large number "5" watermark is located to the right of the portrait of President Lincoln. A second watermark — a column of three smaller "5"s — has been added to the new $5 bill design and is positioned to the left of the portrait. Hold your bill up to the light and look for the two new watermarks.

The embedded security thread appears to the right of the President Lincoln portrait on the redesigned $5 bill. The letters "USA" followed by the number "5" in an alternating pattern are visible along the thread from both sides of the bill.

The embedded security thread glows blue when held under ultraviolet light. Hold your bill up to the light and look for the embedded security thread. For more info on the redesigned $5 bill, see About the the New 5$ Bill.

The following video shows the new $5 bill being printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing:

The public can buy uncut sheets of $5 bills and other denominations directly from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. This is real money. For more info, see Uncut Currency.

Resources
The Digital Resources page on the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Web site provides downloadable materials available to the public, including podcasts, screensavers, and desktop wallpaper. Visit The Bureau of Engraving and Printing for more info on U.S. banknotes and how they are made.