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The Global Insight

What is on the front of the five dollar bill its back?

Author

John Hall

Updated on April 11, 2026

the Lincoln Memorial
The $5 note features a portrait of President Lincoln on the front of the note and a vignette of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the note.

What is the faceplate number on a bill?

The letter of each indicator matches the second letter of the serial number on the note. The face plate and back plate numbers identify the printing plates used to print each side of the note. The face plate number is found on the face of the note and the back plate number is found on the back.

What does the back of a five dollar bill look like?

Infrared Ink: The back of the five-dollar bill features sections of the bill that are blanked out when viewed in the infrared spectrum. This is consistent with other high-value US bills ($5 and up), which all feature patterns of infrared-visible stripes unique to the given denomination.

Where are the 26 states on the 5 dollar bill?

These are the 26 states that can be seen on the front side of the Lincoln memorial which is what is pictured on the $5 bill. On the back of the bill, a larger, purple numeral “5” appears in the lower right corner to help those with visual impairments to distinguish the denomination.

Why is the US 5 dollar bill called a porthole?

1918: The 1915 Federal Reserve Bank Note was re-issued under series 1918 by 11 Federal Reserve banks. 1923: The $5 silver certificate was redesigned; it was nicknamed a “porthole” note due to the circular wording of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around Lincoln’s portrait. The reverse featured the Great Seal of the United States.

When did the 5 dollar bill become legal tender?

1963: Both the $5 United States Note and Federal Reserve Note were revised with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST added to the reverse and WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND removed from the obverse. Also, the obligation on the Federal Reserve Note was shortened to its current wording, THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.