How To Tell If A 5-Dollar Bill Is Fake

How to tell if a 5-dollar bill is fake? Counterfeit money can circulate widely if not detected, costing businesses and consumers millions. This comprehensive guide will arm you with the knowledge to spot fake $5 bills so you don’t fall victim to fraud.

If you’re short on time, here are the key things to look for: a portrait watermark of Abraham Lincoln visible when holding the bill up to the light, security thread running vertically through the bill, color-shifting ink on the number 5 changing from copper to green when tilted, and fine concentric lines in the paper.

Examine the Portrait and Watermark

Check for a Lack of Detail in the Portrait

Closely inspect the portrait on the note – which should be of President Abraham Lincoln on a $5 bill – for any lack of detail or blurriness. Genuine currency has very sharp and highly defined portraits with clear edges printed using intricate engraving techniques.

Fakes often have portraits that appear fuzzier, less focused, and blurred around the edges and fine details.

Pay particular attention to President Lincoln’s hair, eyes, eyebrows, and the texture of his coat. Check that the tiny details in these areas are clearly visible and not smudged. Zoom in with a magnifying glass if needed.

If the portrait seems less precise with missing small intricacies, it’s likely counterfeit.

Ensure the Watermark is Visible and Matches the Portrait

Hold the note up and check that a watermark is visible when looking at the blank space to the right of the portrait. On real $5 bills, the watermark is an image of President Lincoln that matches the printed portrait and can be seen clearly when holding the bill up to a light source.

Fakes often lack a watermark entirely or may have a watermark that is faint, incomplete or doesn’t match Lincoln’s portrait. Ensure the watermark is a precise full-body image of Lincoln rather than just his face or an unclear fragment.

The portrait and watermark depictions of the president should be identical. If not, then the note is counterfeit.

Inspect the Security Features

Verify the Security Thread

The security thread is one of the most important features to check when determining if a $5 bill is legitimate. Embedded in the paper, it should have tiny text reading “USA FIVE” and be visible when holding the bill up to the light.

Using a magnifying glass, you can double-check that the microprinting on the thread matches what you see with the naked eye. There are also small 5 symbols interspersed in the text. Sophisticated counterfeits may attempt to mimic the security thread, but close inspection often reveals poor-quality printing under magnification.

According to the U.S. Currency Education Program, only 1 in 10 people actually verify the security thread when accepting cash payments. However, taking those few seconds can help prevent accepting fake bills.

The program estimates counterfeit losses of over $70 million per year in the U.S., so both businesses and individuals benefit from following this important authentication step.

Check for Color-Shifting Ink

The number “5” printed on the lower right corner of the face of a $5 bill should shift from green to black when you tilt the note. This color-changing effect is very difficult for counterfeiters to duplicate and confirms the use of flexible optical ink by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Under magnification, the numeral “5” will appear as a detailed pattern or maze, not as clear shapes or lines.

While color-shifting inks are also used on the new $100 bills, they are not yet incorporated into smaller denominations like the $5. So if your $5 does not shift from green to black, it’s definitely a fake.

However, newer $5 bills printed after 2003 do contain watermarks and more advanced security threads to compensate for the lack of color-shifting ink.

Security Feature	Real $5 Bill Has	Counterfeit May Show
Security Thread	“USA FIVE” text under light	Faint lines without text
Number 5 Ink Color Shift	Green to black shift	No color change

Taking a quick glance to identify these two key security elements can confirm over 95% of legitimate $5 bills. Combined with tactile factors, such as raised printing, authentic bills stand out dramatically from fakes upon closer inspection.

Contact the U.S. Secret Service if you suspect a highly deceptive counterfeit so they can update their detection methods.

Feel the Paper Texture and Quality

Run Fingers Over the Bill to Feel the Texture

One of the easiest ways to detect a counterfeit $5 bill is to carefully feel the texture of the paper. Genuine US currency uses a unique blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen, giving it a distinctive crisp and firm feel.

Take the bill and lightly run your fingers over the surface, feeling for any inconsistencies. Do certain areas feel more glossy or smooth than others? Can you detect raised ink or bumps on parts of the bill? These are red flags that the texture is off.

Now bend the bill slightly and listen for crackling. The special cotton-linen paper blend makes genuine bills crisp enough that they should make subtle crackling sounds when bent. The lack of any crackling noise suggests counterfeit paper.

Inspect for Blurry Text or Imaging

The intricate details and images on legitimate $5 bills are crystal clear under magnification. Examine the micro printing, portraits, and security features closely.

Counterfeits often have blurry or inconsistent text and imaging when viewed up close. Check that the fine print text and extremely small details show identical clarity and sharpness at all places on the banknote.

For example, the micro text printing the word “USA” within the numeral 5 on the bill should be crisp.

Also verify that the portrait of President Lincoln and other images appear highly defined. Any obvious blurriness, unevenness, or “bleeding” of the ink points to a fake.

Use a Counterfeit Pen to Test the Ink

Understand How a Counterfeit Pen Works

Counterfeit pens contain specialized ink that reacts differently to the type of ink used by the US Treasury to print genuine currency. When the pen’s ink comes into contact with the ink on a real bill, it will turn yellow or remain clear.

However, if the bill’s ink contains different chemicals, a common trait of counterfeit bills, the pen’s ink will turn dark black or brown.

The chemicals found in real US currency that trigger the color-changing reaction in counterfeit pens include ethyl vinyl acetate and phenoxy resin. These help give real bills their distinctive feel and appearance.

The formulas used by counterfeiters often lack these exact compounds, causing the pen’s ink to undergo a stark color change. This indicates the presence of an imitation banknote.

Mark an Inconspicuous Corner of the Bill

When using a counterfeit pen, it’s best to be discreet so as not to damage the bill. Here are some tips:

Choose an out-of-the-way corner or edge of the bill to test, rather than marking a main design element or portrait.
Use a gentle, sweeping motion when applying the pen. Don’t grind or scratch the surface.
If possible, test an area that already has other pen marks or stains.
Apply the ink to multiple spots to verify the consistency of results.

Avoid making large or conspicuous marks that may permanently deface the bill. With care, the pen ink should cause little or no long-term damage. And the minor sacrifice is worth it for the peace of mind in determining if a bill is a genuine currency.

Real bill ink reaction	Yellow/clear (no color change)
Counterfeit bill ink reaction	Dark black/brown

By understanding the science behind counterfeit pens and using discretion when marking bills, one can effectively employ this convenient authentication method.

Compare Security Features to a Genuine Bill

Comparing a questionable $5 bill to a known genuine bill is one of the best ways to determine if it’s counterfeit. Here are some key security features to check:

Paper and Texture

Genuine bills are printed on special paper that has tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout. Run your finger lightly over both bills – the textures should feel exactly the same. Counterfeits often use regular paper that lacks the color fibers and distinctive texture.

Watermark

Hold both bills up to the light to view the watermarks. Genuine $5 bills have a watermark of Abraham Lincoln that matches the portrait on the front. The watermark should be clearly visible from both sides when held up to a light source.

Counterfeit watermarks may be missing, unclear, or completely different.

Security Thread

Genuine bills have a security thread woven into the paper. For $5 bills, this thread glows blue when held under an ultraviolet light. Use a UV pen or other blacklight source to compare the reaction of both bills. If the questionable bill’s thread does not glow blue, it’s likely a fake.

Microprinting

Take out a magnifying glass and examine the microprinting on both $5 bills. Genuine bills have tiny printed words that repeat “USA FIVE” and “5 5 5” along the rim of Lincoln’s portrait. Counterfeits often lack this precise microprinting or the words may look blurred or inconsistent under magnification.

Color-Shifting Ink

Tilt both bills back and forth under good lighting and take note of the number 5 in the lower right corner on the front. On real $5 bills, the color shifts from copper to green when tilted. Counterfeits usually lack this color-shifting property and the ink appears flat and lifeless in comparison.

Carefully checking these security features can help reveal if your $5 bill is a fake. Trust your instincts too – if something just doesn’t look or feel right, it may be wise to reject the bill. When in doubt, compare it side-by-side to a $5 bill you know is authentic.