Abraham Lincoln has been on the five dollar bill since 1914. He was chosen partly because he was widely respected after the Civil War.

Before Lincoln, the five dollar bill featured other figures such as Salmon P. Chase.

Lincoln is one of the most frequently depicted figures on United States currency overall.

The back of the bill shows the Lincoln Memorial. You can see Lincoln’s statue inside the memorial on the bill, tiny but real. The number of columns on the memorial represents the states in the Union when Lincoln died.

The memorial was not completed until 1922, so earlier five dollar bills did not show it.

The modern five dollar bill has multiple watermarks. It has a security thread that glows blue under UV light. Tiny microprinting appears in multiple places.

Some designs include hidden “USA FIVE” text.

The five dollar bill was redesigned in 2008 to fight counterfeiting. It was one of the first low denomination bills to receive major security upgrades. Unlike higher bills, it has no holographic strip.

The five dollar bill is mostly green and purple. It is the smallest denomination bill to use noticeable color besides green.

The phrase “In God We Trust” appears on it but did not appear until the 1950s.

The serial numbers are printed in green ink.

Five dollar bills are printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. They are printed in Washington, D.C., and Fort Worth, Texas.

The paper is a cotton linen blend, not regular paper, just like other bills.

The ink is specially formulated and extremely hard to replicate.

The average lifespan of a five dollar bill is about four to five years. Worn out bills are shredded and destroyed by the Federal Reserve.

The slang term “fin” for five dollars possibly comes from Yiddish. Another nickname is “fiver.”

In the nineteenth century, five dollars was a significant amount, roughly a week’s wages for many workers.

The five dollar bill is one of the most commonly circulated denominations in the United States.

The five dollar bill is often used in tips more than higher denominations.