New U.S. Redesign of the $5 note

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THE U.S. TREASURY, FEDERAL RESERVE AND U.S. SECRET SERVICE ANNOUNCE THE REDESIGN OF THE $5 NOTE

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WASHINGTON – June 29, 2006 - The U.S. government announced today that it plans to redesign the $5 note as part of ongoing security enhancements to U.S. currency. Officials said redesigning the $5 note will help update and protect U.S. currency.

“The $5 note is widely used in a variety of vending, transit farecard and self-service machines,” said Bureau of Engraving and Printing Director Larry Felix. “We have already begun working with the manufacturers of those cash-handling machines and their customers, so they have ample time to adjust their equipment to accept the redesigned $5 note when it enters circulation.”

The latest series of U.S. currency began with the introduction of the $20 note in 2003, and continued with the $50 note in 2004 and the $10 note in 2006. The redesigned $5 note is expected to be issued in early 2008 with the $100 note to follow.

Overall, counterfeiting of U.S. currency remains at low levels – due primarily to a combination of improvements in the notes’ security features, aggressive law enforcement and education efforts to inform the public about how to verify their currency. Statistics continue to indicate that the amount of counterfeit U.S. currency worldwide is less than one percent of genuine U.S. currency in circulation.

“The U.S. government keeps a close eye on evolving counterfeiting trends and redesigns the currency to protect the public’s hard earned money and to stay ahead of counterfeiters,” said Michael Lambert, Assistant Director of Federal Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems. “The newly designed $5 note will be safer and provides the public with easy-to-use security features to help them identify counterfeit notes.” He noted the government’s policy is to introduce new currency designs about every seven to 10 years to leverage advances in security technology and stay ahead of evolving counterfeiting methods.

The government’s ongoing scrutiny of counterfeiting techniques has detected a pattern in which counterfeiters bleach the ink off of $5 notes, then print counterfeit $100 notes on the paper, deceiving the public because of similarities between the placement of the security features on the $5 and $100 notes. While these counterfeit attempts pose no significant economic problems today, officials say a redesign of the $5 will help ensure such problems do not develop in the future.

“Through our investigations and law enforcement partnerships worldwide, we are constantly evaluating and combating trends that could potentially impact the security of our currency,” said Deputy Assistant Director Michael P. Merritt, U.S. Secret Service. “Aggressive law enforcement, an effective design, and public education are all essential components of our concerted anti-counterfeiting efforts.”

The most effective way the public can protect themselves from counterfeit currency is to know the security features to look for in authentic U.S. currency. To that end, part of the government’s ongoing currency redesign effort is a worldwide public education program to raise awareness of the changes to U.S. currency.

An array of free educational materials for previously released redesigned currency including posters, “take one” cards, training videos and CD-ROMs are available to businesses, financial institutions, trade and professional associations, citizen groups and individuals to prepare cash handlers and consumers to recognize the new design and protect against counterfeits. Materials are available in 24 languages to order or download on-line at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney. Soon, similar materials will be available for the redesigned $5 note and all future denominations of redesigned U.S. currency.

http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/main.cfm/media/releases06292006

New U.S. $5 Bill Will Get a Digital Debut on September 20
New Design to Be Unveiled Online During "Wi-5" Event

Washington, D.C. (August 21, 2007) - For the first time, a redesigned denomination of U.S. currency will be digitally unveiled when a new $5 bill design is revealed on September 20, 2007.

In relying on digital communications channels for the "Wi-5" unveiling event, the government will serve two purposes: first, echo its approach to staying ahead of counterfeiters by using the latest advances in technology to enhance the bill's security; and second, allow for the unveiling of the new $5 bill design to be widely accessible.

"A digital unveiling for the redesigned $5 bill provides a new opportunity to engage people in the public education process," said Dawn Haley, Chief of the Office of External Relations at the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, "We hope that the ‘Wi-5' theme will get consumers excited about the new bill and encourage them to use the resources on our Web site to learn about its security features and protect their hard-earned money."

The government offers public education and training materials to inform the public about the latest currency designs. These materials are available to order or download at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney. The site has received over 222 million hits since its launch in May 2003 and gets about 280,000 unique visitors each month.

The Web site will be home to the "Wi-5" event on September 20, when government officials from the U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve Board, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and U.S. Secret Service reveal the new $5 bill design for the first time and discuss continuing efforts to stay ahead of counterfeiting. An online Q&A for reporters and podcasts will round out the new bill's digital debut. During the days following the $5 bill's unveiling, streaming video of man-on-the-street interviews will be posted on the site, which will showcase consumers identifying the new $5 bill's updated security features.

"The United States government will continue to enhance the security of our Nation's currency," said Rose Pianalto, Assistant to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. "From Bangkok to Boston, we want those who rely on our paper money around the globe – whether they are central banks, businesses or consumers – to have the information they need to verify the money they receive is genuine and to ensure a smooth introduction of new designs into commerce."

Counterfeiting of U.S. currency has been kept at low levels through a combination of improvements in security features, aggressive law enforcement and education efforts to inform the public about how to check their paper money.

The $100 bill will be the next denomination to be redesigned after the $5 bill is issued in early 2008. The government has no plans to redesign the $1 and $2 bills.

Information for reporters on how to attend the "Wi-5" unveiling event on September 20:

Who:
Anna Escobedo Cabral, Treasurer of the United States
Larry R. Felix, Director, Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Michael Lambert, Assistant Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems, Federal Reserve Board
Michael Merritt, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Investigations, U.S. Secret Service 

When:
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Representatives from the U.S. government will unveil the new $5 bill to the public for the first time at 9:00 a.m. EST. An online "reporter only" Q&A will follow at 9:30 a.m. Reporters should register in advance at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/pressregistration to reserve a virtual seat and to receive a reminder to attend. 

Where:
The "Wi-5" $5 design unveiling event is entirely digital and takes place at: www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney 

Interviews:
The online "reporters only" Q&A will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST. Officials are also available for one-on-one telephone or on-camera media interviews. These can be scheduled in advance by calling 202-530-4887.

Materials:
Press kits for the redesigned $5 bill will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST on September 20th in the Media Center at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney. The electronic press kit includes a range of information about and images of the redesigned $5 bill.

B-roll:
B-roll of U.S. currency already in circulation is available at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/b-rollarchives or by calling 202-530-4887. Footage of the redesigned $5 bill in production and sound bites from government officials will be available online beginning Thursday, September 20th at 9:00 a.m. EST. 

http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/main.cfm/media/releases5_082107

New $5 on Track for Early 2008
By Bill Brandimore
September 11, 2007

At a press conference Aug. 8, Dawn Haley and Kevin Brown of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing said redesign of the $5 bill is on track for the new note to appear around February 2008.

Intent of the BEP press conference at the American Numismatic Association convention in Milwaukee, Wis., was to continue efforts to educate the general public and numismatic enthusiasts on developments affecting U.S. currency.

The most recent developments include news that new presses are being installed that will have the capacity to print 50-subject sheets. These presses are expected to be fully installed and in operation sometime in 2010.

Regarding the $5 FRN redesign, Haley and Brown were quite enthusiastic about what they described as an attractive new note with a new generation of security features. Although unable to discuss specifics, both BEP reps feel the public will be pleased with them.

Plans remain in place to design and introduce a new $100 bill in the next two years.

The BEP expects to redesign circulating currency every five to seven years. This will help with the security of U.S. currency against counterfeiting threats. Public confidence is high regarding the security of our currency. Counterfeiting was described as a very low threat in the United States today. At the current time, $20 bills are the most commonly seen counterfeits in this country, while $100s are more common abroad.

Aside from currency itself, remodeling has crimped public tours at the BEP facility in Washington, D.C., but Fort Worth tours were described as excellent. Efforts are under way to make the tours more interactive, especially for children, Brown and Haley said.

They then fielded questions from the 25 or so people present. They heard suggestions that the BEP develop commemorative notes, issue more low serial number sets and possibly look at using different-sized notes for different denominations.

http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=2862

New $5 Bill Debuts During “Wi-5” Event

First-Ever “Digital Unveiling” of a Redesigned Bill
Introduction Scheduled for Early 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 20, 2007) — The U.S. government today digitally unveiled a new, more secure design for the $5 bill that will be issued and enter circulation in early 2008. A new $100 bill will follow. This is the first time in history that U.S. paper money has ever been unveiled entirely online.

Similar to recently redesigned $10, $20 and $50 bills, the new $5 bill incorporates improved, easy-to-use security features, making it easier for businesses and consumers to check the new $5 bills they receive and more difficult for counterfeiters to fake.

Officials from the U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve Board, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and U.S. Secret Service were part of today’s “Wi-5” preview, an entirely digital event which emphasized the government’s commitment to staying ahead of counterfeiters. The live “unveiling” of the $5 bill design, which featured government officials discussing currency security efforts, took place on money factory and also included an online Q&A for news reporters. Podcasts featuring important information about the new $5 bill are also posted on the site.

“The government uses the best tools available so that it will be unlikely that you will receive a counterfeit bill,” said Treasurer of the United States Anna Escobedo Cabral. “Improved security features are at the heart of this currency series – security features that are easy for everyone to use. Learn how to use them, so you don’t lose your hard-earned money in the unlikely event that someone tries to pass a counterfeit bill to you.” The new $5 bill incorporates state-of-the-art security features that are easy to use by cash handlers and consumers alike. Hold the bills up to the light to check for these features:

• Watermarks: There are now two watermarks on the redesigned $5 bill. A large number “5” watermark is located to the right of the portrait replacing the previous watermark portrait of President Lincoln found on the older design $5 bills. 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.

• Security Thread: The embedded security thread runs vertically and is now located to the right of the 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 thread glows blue when held under ultraviolet light.

“Our goal is to seamlessly introduce the redesigned bills to the public by working primarily with financial institutions in the United States and around the world, as well as with foreign central banks,” said Michael Lambert, Assistant Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems, Federal Reserve Board. “There is no need to trade in your old $5 bills for new ones. All U.S. currency issued by the U.S. government — old and new — is legal tender and continues to be redeemable at full face value.”

Because the $5 bill is heavily used in vending and transit farecard machines, the U.S. government began informing the manufacturers and end-users of those machines about the upcoming new $5 bill more than a year ago, to provide ample time to adjust them to accept the new design.

“We are working with manufacturers of ATMs and other cash-oriented machines to ensure they have the information they need to adjust their machines to accept the new bills,” said Larry R. Felix, Director of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing. “Just as importantly, we are educating cash handlers on how to use the improved security features. They are the first line of defense against counterfeiting, and their  familiarity with the new design and its improved security features is vital to a smooth transition.”

With today’s unveiling of the $5 bill’s new look, the U.S. government officially launched the next phase of the public education program that will ensure a smooth transition for the new currency by informing people worldwide about the new design and its security features.

Free educational materials are available to businesses, financial institutions, trade and professional associations, citizen groups and individuals to prepare cash handlers and consumers to recognize the new design and protect themselves against counterfeits. Since 2003, the U.S. government has distributed approximately 78 million pieces of public education and training materials about the new $10, $20 and $50 bill redesigns. Materials are available to order or download in multiple languages at Money Factory.

The redesign of the $5 bill will also help protect against a method of counterfeiting that bleaches, or removes the ink from, a $5 bill and prints over it to create a fake $100 bill. By eliminating as many similarities as possible between the $5 and $100 denominations, the new design foils counterfeiting and protects U.S. currency users.

The embedded security thread on the new $5 bill has been moved so that it is in a distinctively different location than the thread on the $100 bill. Previously located to the left of the portrait on the older-design $5 bill and in a similar position on the $100 bill, the thread has now been moved to the right of the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln on the redesigned $5 bill.

In addition, similarities between the watermarks on the new $5 and $100 bills have also been eliminated. While the old $5 and $100 bills both have a portrait watermark, the watermark on the new $5 bill has been changed to a large number “5.” Furthermore, a second watermark, featuring a column of three smaller number “5”s has been added to the left of President Lincoln’s portrait.

“The combination of public education, law enforcement and improved security features helps deter potential
counterfeiters, but security features only work if people know how to use them,” said Michael Merritt, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Investigations, U.S. Secret Service. “Be smart; know your money so counterfeiters don’t take advantage of you.”

In the U.S. alone last year there were 3,945 arrests related to counterfeit bills passed to individuals and businesses, equaling a total loss of $62 million.1

Last year, the U.S. Secret Service and international authorities seized just over $53 million in counterfeit bills before they entered circulation. Nearly $65 million that had been passed into circulation was detected and removed worldwide. In these cases, innocent victims who accepted bogus bills suffered a financial loss.2

As with the redesigned $10, $20 and $50 bills that preceded it, the new $5 bill features an American symbol of freedom printed in the background: The Great Seal of the United States, featuring an eagle and shield, is printed in purple on the front of the bill.

Additional design elements include:

• The large easy-to-read number “5” in the lower right corner on the back of the bill, which helps those with visual impairments to distinguish the denomination, has been enlarged in the new $5 bill design, and is printed in high-contrast purple ink.

• 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.

• An arc of purple stars surrounds the portrait and The Great Seal on the front of the bill, and small yellow “05”s are printed on the front and back of the bill.

The new $5 bill’s most noticeable design difference is the addition of light purple in the center of the bill, which blends into gray near the edges. Consumers and cash-handlers should use the key security features — watermarks and security thread — not color, to check the authenticity of paper money because color can be duplicated.

1 U.S. Secret Service, based on FY2006 statistics.
2 U.S. Secret Service, based on FY2006 statistics.

REDESIGNED $5 BILL TO ENTER CIRCULATION MARCH 13, 2008
Vending Machines Prepare to Accept New $5 Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 13, 2007) — The newly designed $5 bill will enter circulation on March 13, 2008, the Federal Reserve Board and U.S. Treasury announced today. This alerts businesses that manufacture and use vending and self-checkout machines that they have 90 days to adapt their machines to accept the new bill.

On March 13, Federal Reserve banks will begin distributing the redesigned $5 bills to customer banks, which then distribute currency to businesses and consumers. The new bills will first begin circulating in the United States and gradually in other countries as international banks place orders for $5 bills from the Federal Reserve. Older-design $5 notes will continue to circulate and maintain their full face value. Therefore, it will not be necessary to trade in old $5 bills for new ones.

“The U.S. government has been working with the business community and central banks to ensure a smooth transition for the new $5 bill,” said Rose Pianalto, Assistant to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board. “Because the $5 bill is used so extensively in vending and self-checkout machines, encouraging businesses to get those machines updated to accept the new design has been a particular focus for us.”

“Any business that operates machines that accept $5 bills should contact the machines’ manufacturers and ensure they get adjusted to accept the new design,” said Dawn Haley, Chief of the Office of External Relations at the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing. “At the same time, for any business that deals in cash, this is a good time to start training employees on what security features to look for in the new $5 bill, before they start seeing it in their cash registers.”

The new $5 bill incorporates state-of-the-art security features that are easy to use by cash handlers and consumers alike. Hold the bills to the light to check for these features:

• Watermarks: There are now two watermarks on the redesigned $5 bill. A large number “5” watermark is located to the right of the portrait replacing the previous watermark portrait of President Lincoln found on the older design $5 bills. 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.

• Security Thread: The embedded security thread runs vertically and has been moved from its position to the left of the portrait in older-design $5 notes to the right of the 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 thread glows blue under ultraviolet light.

Free educational materials are available to businesses, financial institutions, trade and professional associations, citizen groups and individuals to prepare cash handlers and consumers to recognize the new design and protect themselves against counterfeits. Since 2003, the U.S. government has distributed more than 78 million pieces of public education and training materials about the new $5, $10, $20 and $50 bill redesigns. Materials are available to order or download in multiple languages at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Information about the retail location where U.S. government officials will spend the first new $5 bill will be available on January 14, 2008.
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First New $5 Bill to Be Spent at President Lincoln’s Cottage on March 13th


Washington, D.C. – January 14, 2008 – The first redesigned $5 bill, which will continue to feature the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, will enter circulation on March 13 and will be spent at the gift shop of President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C. The venue, which has recently been restored and open to the public, was used by President Lincoln as a retreat. President Lincoln understood that maintaining the integrity of U.S. currency was critical to the stability of our economy. In fact, President Lincoln established the United States Secret Service the same evening he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. and made it the agency’s primary mission to safeguard the nation’s currency from counterfeiters.

On March 13, Federal Reserve banks will begin distributing redesigned $5 bills to customer banks, which will then distribute currency to businesses and consumers. The new bills will first begin circulating in the U.S. and gradually in other countries as international banks place orders for $5 bills from the Federal Reserve. Older-design $5 bills will maintain their full face value. Therefore, it will not be necessary to trade in old $5 bills for new ones.

When: Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 10:30 AM. Media set-up will begin at 9:00 AM.

Where: President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home
President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) campus in Washington, D.C. approximately 10-15 minutes from downtown. The entrance to the AFRH is the Eagle Gate at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road, NW and Upshur Street NW, Washington, DC 20011.

Materials: Press kits for the redesigned $5 bill are available in the Media Center at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney. The electronic press kit includes a range of information about and images of the redesigned $5 bill.

B-roll: B-roll of U.S. currency is available at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney in the Multimedia Downloads section of the Media Center.

RSVP: All attending press should please call 202-530-4887 by March 11th.

Interviews: One-on-one interviews will be available with principals from the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Federal Reserve Board and United States Secret Service. Please schedule in advance by calling 202-530-4887. A full list of principals will be included in a reminder advisory which will be released to the media on February 12, President Lincoln’s birthday.

Free educational materials are available to businesses, financial institutions, trade and professional associations, citizen groups and individuals to prepare cash handlers and consumers to recognize the new design and protect themselves against counterfeits. Since 2003, the U.S. government has distributed more than 78 million pieces of public education and training materials about the new $5, $10, $20 and $50 bill redesigns. Materials are available to order or download in multiple languages at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney.

About President Lincoln’s Cottage: Designated a National Monument by President Clinton in 2000, President Lincoln’s Cottage served as Lincoln’s family residence for a quarter of his presidency and is a significant historic site directly associated with Lincoln’s presidency. President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in northwest Washington, D.C. and has been restored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For further information, including driving directions, go to www.lincolncottage.org.

First New $5 Bill to Be Spent at President Lincoln’s Cottage on March 13th


Washington, D.C. – January 14, 2008 – The first redesigned $5 bill, which will continue to feature the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, will enter circulation on March 13 and will be spent at the gift shop of President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C.    ....

Okay, what will be purchased?   Will the purchase be the property of the US Government, since, presumably, the banknote won't be released to the public until after 10:00 am.

Related to the above, the BEP exhibited two half sheets (16 subject) of the new $5.00 note at FUN2008, Orlando, FL, this past weekend, showing the face and back sides.  The notes were Boston stars, IA03206201* - IA03506201* (position A1-D1,A2-D2,E1-H1,E2-H2).  BEP reports indicate these notes were printed in Nov 2007.  Curiously, due to an earlier BEP press run, there will be two different series 2006 $5.00 banknotes.  The 'old' design has serial number Hx00000001A, while the 'new' design will have serial number Ix00000001A.  ('x' is the Federal Reserve District letter.)

blumax

A

New $5 Bill Enters Circulation Today
Enhanced Security Features Are Easy to Check

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2008) - The first new $5 bill was issued by the Federal Reserve today during a commemorative transaction at President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C., a historic site used by the former president as a White House summer retreat. Officials from the Federal Reserve Board, U.S. Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and U.S. Secret Service ushered the new $5 bill into circulation at the Lincoln Cottage gift shop.

Michael Lambert, Assistant Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems at the Federal Reserve Board, spent the first new $5 bill on a book of President Lincoln's speeches. President Lincoln's portrait continues to be featured on this redesign of the $5 bill.

"The redesigned $5 bill's enhanced security features help ensure we stay ahead of counterfeiters and protect your hard-earned money," Lambert said. "It only takes a few seconds to check the new $5 bill to make sure it's genuine. If you know how to check its security features, you can easily be confident it's real."

Today, Federal Reserve banks will begin distributing the redesigned $5 bills to customer banks, which will then distribute them to businesses and consumers. The new $5 bill designs will circulate first in the U.S. and gradually spread to other countries as international banks place orders for them from the Federal Reserve. You don't have to trade in your old bills for new ones. Both the new $5 bills and the older-design $5 bills will continue to maintain their full face value.

The new $5 bill incorporates state-of-the-art security features that are easy to use by cash handlers and consumers alike. Hold the bill to the light to check for these features:

• Watermarks: There are now two watermarks on the redesigned $5 bill. A large number "5" watermark is located in a blank space to the right of the portrait replacing the previous watermark portrait of President Lincoln found on the older-design $5 bills. 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.
  
  Security Thread: The embedded security thread runs vertically and is now located to the right of the 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 thread glows blue when held under ultraviolet light.

President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C. (www.lincolncottage.org), which has recently been restored and is now open to the public, was chosen as the location to spend the first new $5 bill because of its historic significance to President Lincoln, the subject of the bill's portrait. President Lincoln established the United States Secret Service the same evening he was assassinated and made safeguarding the nation's currency from counterfeiters the agency's primary mission.

Every person or business that gets a counterfeit bill experiences a real economic loss, and in 2007, $61.4 million in counterfeit money was passed in the United States.

"Everyone who uses U.S. currency is on the front line of defense against counterfeiters," said Michael Merritt, Deputy Assistant Director, U.S. Secret Service. "The best way to protect yourself is to learn the security features. It's simple, it's quick, and it can save you from accepting a fake."

Treasurer of the United States Anna Escobedo Cabral encouraged businesses and individuals to visit www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney to order or download educational materials about the new $5 bill and other recently redesigned currency, including the $10, $20 and $50 bills. "Each time we introduce a new bill, we provide the information businesses and individuals need to empower themselves – to learn how to use the security features and verify that a bill is genuine."

Free educational materials are available to businesses, financial institutions, trade and professional associations, citizen groups and individuals to prepare cash handlers and consumers to recognize the new design and protect themselves against counterfeits. Since 2003, the U.S. government has distributed about 80 million pieces of public education and training materials about the new $5, $10, $20 and $50 bill redesigns. Materials are available to order or download in multiple languages at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney.

Manufacturers and users of cash-handling equipment are also an important audience for education about new currency designs. "Because the $5 bill is used so heavily in vending, self-service and transit farecard machines, we began working with the manufacturers of those and other cash-oriented machines in 2006 to make sure they had enough time to make the necessary adjustments that would allow for their machines to accept the new $5 bill," said Pamela Gardiner, Deputy Director of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

As with the redesigned $10, $20 and $50 bills that preceded it, the new $5 bill features an American symbol of freedom printed in the background. The Great Seal of the United States, featuring an eagle and shield, is printed in purple on the front of the bill. Additional design elements include:

The large, easy-to-read number "5" in the lower right corner on the back of the bill, which helps those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination, has been enlarged in the new $5 bill design and is printed in high-contrast purple ink.

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.

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 new $5 bill's most noticeable design difference is the addition of light purple in the center of the bill, which blends into gray near the edges. Because color can be duplicated, consumers and cash-handlers should use the key security features – on the new $5 bill, the watermarks and security thread – not color, to check the authenticity of paper money.

Note to Editors: Given President Lincoln's ties to the state of Illinois, the Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Chicago will commemorate the $5 day of issue with a teacher training workshop and youth education event at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. The event is in cooperation with the Illinois Council on Economic Education and the purpose is to educate teachers and students more about the new $5 bill, President Lincoln and the Federal Reserve. For more information, please call Joseph Elstner, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis at 314-444-4892 or David Blanchette, Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum at 217-558-0516
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