$50 Note

    2004-Present-front
    2004-Present-front
    2004-Present-back
    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the text USA 50 and a small flag in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows yellow when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Watermark

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of President Grant in the blank space to the right of the portrait.  The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 50 in the lower right corner on the front of the note shift from copper to green.

    • Federal Reserve System Seal

      Federal Reserve System Seal

      A black seal to the left of the portrait represents the entire Federal Reserve System.  A letter and number beneath the left serial number identifies the distributing Federal Reserve Bank.

    • Microprinting

      Microprinting

      Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed text FIFTY, USA, and 50 inside two of the blue stars to the left of the portrait, FIFTY repeated within both side borders of the note, and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in President Grant’s collar.

    • Raised Printing

      Raised Printing

      Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    • Paper

      Paper

      Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers. 

    • Color

      Color

      The note includes subtle background colors of blue and red to both sides of the note.

    • Portrait and Vignette

      The $50 note features a portrait of President Grant on the front of the note and a vignette of the United States Capitol on the back of the note.

    • Symbols of Freedom

      Symbols of Freedom

      Representative of the United States flag, a field of blue stars is located to the left of the portrait, while three red stripes are located to the right of the portrait.  A small metallic silver-blue star is located on the lower right side of the portrait.

    • Green 50

      Green 50

      A large green numeral 50 on the back of the note helps those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination.

    • Treasury Seal

      Treasury Seal

      A green seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

    • Serial Numbers

      Serial Numbers

      A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.

    • Series Year

      Series Year

      The design includes series years 2004, 2004A, 2006, 2009, and 2013.

    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the text USA 50 and a small flag in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows yellow when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Watermark

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of President Grant in the blank space to the right of the portrait.  The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 50 in the lower right corner on the front of the note shift from copper to green.

    1997 - 2004- front
    1997 - 2004- front
    1997 - 2004- back
    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the text USA 50 and a small flag in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows yellow when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Watermark

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of President Grant in the blank space to the right of the portrait.  The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 50 in the lower right corner on the front of the note shift from green to black.

    • Federal Reserve Bank Seal

      Federal Reserve Bank Seal

      A black seal to the left of the portrait represents the entire Federal Reserve System. A letter and number beneath the left serial number identifies the distributing Federal Reserve Bank.

    • Microprinting

      Microprinting

      Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed words FIFTY repeated in the alternating spaces in the vertical side borders of the note and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in the left side of President Grant’s collar.

    • Raised Printing

      Raised Printing

      Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    • Paper

      Paper

      Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers.

    • Portrait and Vignette

      Portrait and Vignette

      The $50 note features a portrait of President Grant on the front of the note and a vignette of the United States Capitol on the back of the note.

    • Green 50

      Green 50

      A large green numeral 50 on the back of the note helps those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination.

    • Treasury Seal

      Treasury Seal

      A green seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

    • Serial Numbers

      Serial Numbers

      A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.

    • Series Year

      Series Year

      The design includes series years 1996 and 2001.

    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the text USA 50 and a small flag in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows yellow when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Watermark

    Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of President Grant in the blank space to the right of the portrait.  The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 50 in the lower right corner on the front of the note shift from green to black.

    1990 - 1997 - front
    1990 - 1997 - front
    1990 - 1997 - back
    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the text USA 50 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows yellow when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Microprinting

    Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed words THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the outer edge of the portrait’s oval frame.

    • Federal Reserve Bank Seal

      Federal Reserve Bank Seal

      A black seal to the left of the portrait bears the name and corresponding letter of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank.

    • Treasury Seal

      Treasury Seal

      A green seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

    • Raised Printing

      Raised Printing

      Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    • Paper

      Paper

      Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers. 

    • Portrait and Vignette

      Portrait and Vignette

      The $50 note features a portrait of President Grant on the front of the note and a vignette of the United States Capitol on the back of the note.

    • Serial Numbers

      Serial Numbers

      A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note. 

    • Series Year

      Series Year

      The design includes series years 1990 and 1993.

    Security Thread

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the text USA 50 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows yellow when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Microprinting

    Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed words THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the outer edge of the portrait’s oval frame.

    1914-1990 - front
    1914-1990 - front
    1914-1990 - back
    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    A black seal to the left of the portrait bears the name of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank. 

    Raised Printing

    Raised Printing

    Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    Paper

    Paper

    Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers.

    Portrait and Vignette

    Portrait and Vignette

    The $50 note features a portrait of President Grant on the front of the note.  The vignette on the back of the note changed in 1929 to feature the United States Capitol.

    Treasury Seal

    Treasury Seal

    A seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  The design of the seal was changed to incorporate 
    an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later. 

    Serial Numbers

    Serial Numbers

    A combination of numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.

    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    Federal Reserve Bank Seal

    A black seal to the left of the portrait bears the name of the distributing Federal Reserve Bank. 

    Raised Printing

    Raised Printing

    Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    Paper

    Paper

    Federal Reserve note paper is one-fourth linen and three-fourths cotton, and contains red and blue security fibers.

    Portrait and Vignette

    Portrait and Vignette

    The $50 note features a portrait of President Grant on the front of the note.  The vignette on the back of the note changed in 1929 to feature the United States Capitol.

    Treasury Seal

    Treasury Seal

    A seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  The design of the seal was changed to incorporate 
    an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later. 

    Serial Numbers

    Serial Numbers

    A combination of numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note.

    The $50 note features subtle background colors of blue and red, and includes an embedded security thread that glows yellow when illuminated by UV light. When held to light, a portrait watermark of President Grant is visible from both sides of the note. The note includes a color-shifting numeral 50 in the lower right corner of the note.

    Fifty dollars

    Scroll down to view features

    Color-Shifting Ink

    Tilt the note to see the numeral 50 in the lower right corner on the front of the note shift from copper to green.

    Portrait Watermark

    Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of President Grant in the blank space to the right of the portrait.  The image is visible from both sides of the note.

    Security Thread

    Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the right of the portrait.  The thread is imprinted with the text USA 50 and a small flag in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note.  The thread glows yellow when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

    Raised Printing

    Move your finger along the note’s surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.

    Microprinting

    Look carefully (magnification may be necessary) to see the small printed text FIFTY, USA, and 50 inside two of the blue stars to the left of the portrait, FIFTY repeated within both side borders of the note, and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA In President Grant’s collar.

    Downloads

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      Carnival Thrills and Dollar Bills

      An illustrated book about U.S. currency for elementary students.

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      Cashier Toolkit

      A guide to identifying genuine currency for cashiers.

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      Teller Toolkit
      A guide to identifying genuine currency for tellers.
    • Crop of the Lincoln Memorial steps on the $100 note.

      Dollars in Detail guide

      Refer to this comprehensive guide for in-depth technical information on U.S. currency.

    • Play Money Coloring Sheets

      Play Money Coloring Sheets

      These printable coloring sheets of denominations $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, and $100 are intended for children, parents, and teachers.

    • Face of Abraham Lincoln

      Quick Reference Guide

      The Quick Reference Guide is a comprehensive resource on the security and design features of U.S. currency. This item unfolds and can be displayed next to a point of sale as an easy-to-use reference.

    • A curled view of the $100 note.

      Multinote Booklet

      This 12-page booklet contains detailed information about the security and design features in the redesigned $100 note and those in the current-design $5, $10, $20, and $50 notes.

    • A curled view of the $100 note.

      Multinote Poster

      This poster features the security features in the redesigned $100 note and those in the current-design $5, $10, $20, and $50 notes.

    • Know Your Money

      Know Your Money

      This comprehensive guide includes technical information on the security and design features of the current-design $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes.

    • $50 Note (2004-Present)

      $50 Note (2004-Present)

      Explore security and design features of the $50 note, issued 2004-present.

    • $50 Note (1997-2004)

      $50 Note (1997-2004)

      Explore security and design features of the $50 note, issued 1997-2004.

    • $50 Note (1990-1997)

      $50 Note (1990-1997)

      Explore security and design features of the $50 note, issued 1990-1997.

    • $50 Note (1914-1990)

      $50 Note (1914-1990)

      Explore security and design features of the $50 note, issued 1914-1990.

    History

    1861
    Demand Notes

    In order to finance the Civil War, Congress authorizes the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue non-interest-bearing Demand Notes. These notes earn the nickname “greenbacks” because of their color. All U.S. currency issued since 1861 remains valid and redeemable at full face value.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1862
    United States Notes

    Congress authorizes a new class of currency, known as “United States notes,” or “Legal Tender notes.” These notes are characterized by a red seal and serial number. They continue to circulate until 1971.
     

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1862
    The Foundation of Modern Design

    By 1862, the Demand Notes incorporate fine-line engraving, intricate geometric lathe work patterns, a U.S. Department of the Treasury seal, and engraved signatures to aid in counterfeit deterrence. To this day, U.S. currency continues to add features to deter counterfeiting.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1863
    A National Banking System

    Congress establishes a national banking system and authorizes the U.S. Department of the Treasury to oversee the issuance of National Banknotes. This system sets Federal guidelines for chartering and regulating "national" banks and authorizes those banks to issue national currency secured by the purchase of United States bonds.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1869
    Centralized Printing of United States Notes

    The Bureau of Engraving and Printing begins engraving and printing the faces and seals of U.S. banknotes. Before this, U.S. banknotes were produced by private banknote companies and then sent to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for sealing, trimming, and cutting.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1889
    Names Added to Portraits

    Legislation mandates that all banknotes and other securities containing portraits include the name of the individual below the portrait. This is why you see names below the portraits on banknotes to this day.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1913
    Federal Reserve Act

    The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 establishes the Federal Reserve as the nation’s central bank and provides for a national banking system that is more responsive to the fluctuating financial needs of the country. The Federal Reserve Board issues new currency called Federal Reserve notes.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1929
    Standardization of Design

    The appearance of U.S. banknotes changes greatly in 1929. In an effort to lower manufacturing costs, all Federal Reserve notes are made about 30 percent smaller—measuring 6.14 x 2.61 inches, rather than 7.375 x 3.125 inches. In addition, standardized designs are instituted for each denomination, decreasing the number of designs in circulation and making it easier for the public to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit notes.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1971
    United States Notes Discontinued

    Because United States notes no longer served any function not already adequately met by Federal Reserve notes, their issuance was discontinued and, beginning in 1971, no new United States notes were placed into circulation.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1990
    Security Thread and Microprinting

    A security thread and microprinting are introduced in Federal Reserve notes to deter counterfeiting by copiers and printers. The features first appear in Series 1990 $100 notes. By Series 1993, the features appeared on all denominations except $1 and $2 notes.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    1996
    Currency Redesign

    In the first significant design change since the 1920s, U.S. currency is redesigned to incorporate a series of new counterfeit deterrents. Issuance of the new banknotes begins with the $100 note in 1996, followed by the $50 note in 1997, the $20 note in 1998, and the $10 and $5 notes in 2000.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE
    2004
    The Redesigned $50 Note

    The currency redesigns continue with the $50 note, which features subtle background colors of blue and red. The $50 note includes an embedded security thread that glows yellow when illuminated by UV light. When held to light, a portrait watermark of President Grant is visible from both sides of the note. In addition, the note includes a color-shifting numeral 50 in the lower right corner of the note.

    SEE FULL HISTORY TIMELINE

    Featured

    Quick Reference Guide

    $50 Note Life Cycle

    Before a Federal Reserve note enters circulation, it must pass through four critical steps: design, order, production, and issuance.

    Explore the Full Life Cycle
    • 364.8
      million notes
      2018 FY Print Order
    • $86.4
      billion
      2017 Value in Circulation
    • 8.5
      years
      Estimated Lifespan

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