New, colorful $5 bill to debut this week

updated 6:19 p.m. ET March 12, 2008

WASHINGTON - Coming soon to a cash register near you: a new $5 bill sporting some touches of color for the first time.

The bill goes into circulation Thursday. That's when the Federal Reserve, the supplier of the nation's cash, starts shipping the bills to banks, which send them to businesses and eventually into the wallets, pocketbooks and hands of people in this country and beyond.

It's the latest in a series of redesigned notes aimed at foiling counterfeiters, who over the years have grown increasingly sophisticated.

Abraham Lincoln, the nation's 16th president, is still on the front and the Lincoln Memorial remains on the back.

To the naked eye, the most notable difference is color — splashes of light purple at the center of the bill that blend into gray near the edges.

Small yellow "05" numerals are printed to the left of Lincoln on the front and to the right of the memorial on the back. The Great Seal of the United States, which features an eagle and shield, will appear in purple to the right of the president's portrait. Arcs of purple stars border Lincoln and the seal.

The note also will feature an enlarged "5" printed in high-contrast purple ink in the lower right corner of the back of the bill. It also will have two separate watermarks and a number of other high-tech changes to make it harder for counterfeiters to knock off.

The old $5 bills will continue to be accepted and recirculated until they wear out.

The makeover of the $5 bill is similar to changes to $10, $20 and $50 bills.

Next up for a new look: the $100 bill.

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