The Redesigned Currency: Impact on Original Equipment Manufacturers and Users

The United States government continues to issue currency with enhanced designs and security features. The new $5 bill design was issued on March 13, 2008. A new $100 bill will follow. New $20 and $50 bills were introduced in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and the new $10 bill in 2006.

The Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Federal Reserve and U.S. Secret Service are committed to working with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and the businesses that use those machines and equipment to ensure a smooth transition for each redesigned bill.

Since the beginning of the redesigned currency public education program in 2003, nearly 400,000 contacts have been made with cash-handlers, machine manufacturers, associations, corporations and the general public to help them to prepare for the new currency. This ongoing outreach includes manufacturers of vending and ticketing machines, ATMs and self-service checkout counters, which are becoming increasingly prevalent at retail locations.

The following types of businesses should be especially aware of the newly redesigned $5 bill:

Cash machine manufacturers, including companies that produce bill acceptors, develop firmware and build complete systems, including bill payment kiosks and self-checkout systems.

Users of automated cash machine technology, including supermarkets, mass merchants, home improvement centers, drug stores, financial institutions, and other companies that use bill payment kiosks.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has already provided bill acceptor manufacturers and firmware developers with test versions of the new $5 bill to help them to better prepare for system updates. Retail users of automated cash machine technology should proactively work with their partners to prepare for changes in currency design.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) User Q&A

Why has the U.S. government decided to change the $5 bill?
The government’s ongoing scrutiny of counterfeiting techniques has detected a pattern in which counterfeiters bleach the ink off of $5 bills, then print counterfeit $100 bills on the paper, deceiving the public because of similarities between the placement of the security features on the $5 and $100 bills. While these counterfeit attempts do not pose significant or immediate economic problems, the redesign of the $5 bill will help ensure such problems do not develop in the future.

Much like the redesign of the $10, $20 and $50 bills, the redesigned $5 dollar bill has features and design elements such as color and American “symbols of freedom.” The new $5 bill has background colors of purple and gray. It also features The Great Seal of the United States (an eagle and shield), and there are purple stars surrounding the portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

When will the new $5 bill begin circulating?
The U.S. government issued the new $5 bill on March 13, 2008.

Prior to issuing the new $5 bill, the United States government worked with machine manufacturers, retailers and vendors to ensure that companies were well prepared for the new bill’s introduction.

Can my company get a test version of the new $5 bill to ensure that we are developing the right software and hardware or to ensure that my self check-out systems are properly accepting and dispensing the new $5 bills? When can I get a test bill?

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing works closely with cash machine manufacturers to ensure that companies are well-prepared for the changes to the currency. Retail users of automated cash machine technology should proactively work with their partners to prepare for the change in currency design.

For more information, please contact the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Public Education Office at 202-874-1200. If you wish, you can also contact us by e-mail.