Ever pulled a crumpled fiver out of your pocket and actually looked at it? Most of us just see the purple-grey tint and the big numeral five and move on with our day. But if you’re asking who is on the five dollar bill, the answer is Abraham Lincoln. Everyone knows that. He’s the 16th President of the United States, the man who steered the country through a literal breaking point, and the guy with the most recognizable beard in American history.
But there’s a lot more to it than just a portrait of a tall guy from Illinois.
It isn't just about a face. The five dollar bill is a piece of portable art, a security fortress, and a history lesson you can carry in your wallet. From the "Lincoln Memorial" on the back to the tiny yellow 05s scattered across the paper, this bill tells a story about how the U.S. views its own identity. It’s also one of the most frequently redesigned notes in circulation because, frankly, counterfeiters love trying to fake it.
Why Lincoln Ended Up on the Five
Lincoln didn't just stumble onto the currency. He first appeared on the $5 bill in 1914. This was a big year for American money because it was the first year the Federal Reserve issued notes as we basically know them today. Before that, money was a bit of a "Wild West" situation with silver certificates and various bank-issued notes that looked wildly different from one another.
Why him, though? Well, by the early 20th century, Lincoln had ascended to a sort of secular sainthood. He represented the "Great Emancipator" and the "Preserver of the Union." Placing him on the five—a mid-tier denomination that everyone from a dockworker to a banker would handle—was a strategic move to reinforce national unity.
The portrait we see today is actually based on a real photograph. It was taken by Anthony Berger on February 9, 1864, at Mathew Brady’s gallery in Washington, D.C. If you look closely at the bill, you'll see a level of detail that captures Lincoln’s exhaustion. He was a man carrying the weight of a civil war, and it shows in the lines around his eyes. It’s not a glamorized painting; it’s a snapshot of a tired leader.
The Lincoln Memorial: More Than Just a Building
Flip the bill over. You’re looking at the Lincoln Memorial. Most people know the building, but did you know that if you have a magnifying glass, you can actually see Lincoln himself twice on the same bill?
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It’s true.
If you look at the tiny statue of Lincoln inside the memorial on the back of the bill, he’s there, sitting in his chair. It’s one of those "hidden in plain sight" facts that makes the $5 bill unique. No other current U.S. bill features the same person on both sides in this specific way.
The Memorial was added to the back in 1953, replacing the "Lincoln Memorial" vignette that had been there since the 1920s. The engraving is incredibly precise. You can see the names of the states engraved along the top of the columns, though you’ll probably need a jeweler's loupe to read them clearly.
Security Features: Why the Bill Looks "Purple"
In 2008, the government gave the five dollar bill a massive facelift. This is why the current version has those distinct purple and grey colors. It wasn't just a fashion choice.
Counterfeiting is a constant battle. The "Big Five" (as some call it) was redesigned to stay ahead of digital scanners and high-end printers. One of the most obvious changes was the "Watermark." If you hold your bill up to a bright light, you’ll see a large number 5 in the white space to the right of the portrait. There’s also a second watermark—a column of three smaller 5s—to the left of the portrait.
Then there’s the security thread. It’s a vertical strip of plastic embedded in the paper. On the $5 bill, it glows blue under ultraviolet (UV) light. If you’re ever worried a bill is fake, that’s the gold standard test. Genuine bills have that blue glow; fakes usually don’t.
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The "Great Seal of the United States" is also featured to the right of the portrait. It’s a subtle nod to the authority of the Federal Reserve. Everything on this paper is intentional. Even the tiny yellow "05" numerals printed in the background are part of the "EURion constellation," a pattern that tells color photocopiers, "Hey, don't copy this!"
The Controversy of the Redesign
There’s been a lot of talk over the last decade about changing who is on our money. You’ve probably heard about the push to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. While the $5 bill hasn’t seen as much heated debate as the $20 or the $10 (which Alexander Hamilton successfully defended thanks to a certain Broadway musical), there have been suggestions to update the imagery on the back.
Some historians and activists have suggested that the back of the five dollar bill should reflect the events that took place at the Lincoln Memorial, rather than just the building itself. Think about it. The Memorial was the site of Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert after she was barred from Constitution Hall because of her race. It was where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
While Lincoln remains the face of the bill, the Treasury Department has previously discussed adding depictions of these historic events to the back to provide a more "inclusive" history of American democracy. For now, the design remains focused on the architecture, but money is never static. It changes as the country changes.
Fun Facts You Can Use at Trivia Night
Let’s get into the weeds for a second.
The paper isn't actually paper. It’s 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why it doesn't fall apart when you accidentally leave it in your jeans and run them through the wash. If you tried that with a piece of printer paper, you’d have a soggy mess.
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Also, have you ever noticed the letters and numbers? The "Serial Number" on each bill is unique. The first letter corresponds to the "Series Year." The second letter tells you which Federal Reserve Bank issued the bill. For example, an "L" means it came from San Francisco. A "B" means New York. It’s a giant tracking system for the billions of notes in circulation.
The average lifespan of a five dollar bill is about 4.7 years. Because it’s used so often in daily transactions—getting change at a coffee shop or buying a pack of gum—it wears out much faster than a $100 bill, which might last 15 years or more.
How to Tell if Your Five Dollar Bill is Real
If you’re handling cash, especially in a business setting, knowing who is on the five dollar bill is just the start. You need to know if it’s the real deal.
First, feel the paper. It should feel slightly rough to the touch, especially on Lincoln’s coat. This is "intaglio" printing, where the ink is literally raised off the surface. Most counterfeiters can’t replicate that texture; their bills feel flat or "waxy."
Second, look for the "Microprinting." There are tiny words that look like solid lines to the naked eye. Look at the side borders and inside the large purple "5" in the bottom right corner. You should see "FIVE DOLLARS" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" printed in minuscule letters.
Third, check the "Security Thread." As mentioned, it should be visible from both sides when held to the light and glow blue under a UV lamp.
What’s Next for the Five?
While there are no immediate plans to replace Abraham Lincoln, the Treasury Department is always looking at new security features. As technology gets better, so do the crooks. We might see even more vibrant colors or perhaps tactile features to help the visually impaired identify the denomination—something many other countries already do with their currency.
Lincoln has survived on the bill for over a century, and it’s unlikely he’s going anywhere soon. He is the face of American resilience. Whether he's in your pocket or in a museum, he remains the most iconic figure in the history of U.S. coinage and currency.
Actionable Steps for Currency Enthusiasts
- Check your wallet: Take out a $5 bill and hold it to the light. Find the two watermarks (the big 5 and the three small 5s). It’s a quick way to practice spotting authentic currency.
- Look for "Star Notes": Check the serial number. If there is a small star at the end of the number, it’s a replacement bill. These are printed when the original bill was damaged during production. They are rarer and sometimes worth more than $5 to collectors.
- Visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing: If you’re ever in D.C. or Fort Worth, Texas, you can take a tour and see these bills being printed by the millions. It’s a wild process involving massive sheets of paper and literal tons of ink.
- Educate others: The next time someone asks who is on the five dollar bill, you can tell them it’s Lincoln—but then blow their mind by mentioning he’s actually on there twice.