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The 2003A $5 Federal Reserve Note in Crisp Uncirculated (CU) condition represents a critical juncture in the evolution of American currency, occupying a transitional position between the final traditional small-size note designs and the modern, security-enhanced issues that followed. Issued just before the 2006 series redesign, the 2003A $5 note maintains the longstanding design conventions that had been a mainstay since 1928. This particular series is among the last to feature the classic portrait layout without added colors, watermarks, or security threads, making high-grade examples especially desirable for collectors and enthusiasts of late 20th and early 21st-century paper money.
The obverse of the 2003A $5 Federal Reserve Note continues the established aesthetic format with a central portrait of President Abraham Lincoln. This engraved likeness of the 16th President is based on a historic 1864 photograph and faces to the viewer’s right. Framing Lincoln are multiple inscriptions: “FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE” at the top, “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” above the portrait, and “FIVE DOLLARS” below. To the left of the portrait appears the black seal of the issuing Federal Reserve Bank, with the bank's name and corresponding letter. To the right is the green seal of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, featuring a balanced scale, key, and thirteen stars.
Two green-inked serial numbers are printed on the obverse, positioned at the upper right and lower left corners. The first letter of each serial number corresponds to one of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts, ranging from A (Boston) to L (San Francisco). Notes with a star replacing the suffix letter indicate a replacement, or STAR note, and are typically printed in smaller quantities, making them more collectible. However, standard 2003A notes in CU condition are also of considerable interest due to their place as the final installment in a long-running design tradition before the dramatic overhaul that began with the 2006 series.
The printed signatures at the bottom of the note help to authenticate the issue. For the 2003A series, most examples feature Anna Escobedo Cabral as Treasurer of the United States and John W. Snow as Secretary of the Treasury. Their tenure together places the note’s printing within the mid-2000s during the presidency of George W. Bush. These signatures not only help identify the exact series but also serve to connect the note to its broader political and economic context in U.S. history, including a time of increased attention to currency security features following the events of September 11, 2001.
The reverse of the 2003A $5 note retains the classic and dignified image of the Lincoln Memorial. This detailed engraving captures the monument in Washington, D.C., in full symmetry, with fluted columns, steps, and architectural detail sharply delineated. “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is inscribed along the top edge, while “FIVE DOLLARS” is printed prominently at the bottom. Large numeral “5”s occupy each corner of the reverse, and smaller iterations of the word “FIVE” appear to the left and right of the image. This reverse design remained virtually unchanged from its 1929 inception until the redesign in 2006.
The 2003A $5 notes were printed using high-quality intaglio printing on a paper blend composed of 75% cotton and 25% linen, embedded with red and blue security fibers. The design does not incorporate a security thread, watermark, or color-shifting ink—features that would become standard in subsequent issues. While these notes do not feature the complex anti-counterfeiting tools of more modern bills, the raised ink of intaglio printing and embedded fibers still provided a level of security suitable for the time. The classic feel and texture of this note, along with its clean, symmetrical design, offer nostalgic appeal to collectors of traditional U.S. currency.
As with other Federal Reserve Notes, the 2003A $5 bills were produced at both the Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, Texas facilities of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). Notes printed in Fort Worth are denoted by a small “FW” prefix next to the plate number in the lower right margin of the face. Collectors often differentiate between these facilities, and some pursue full sets from all twelve Federal Reserve Districts printed at both locations. Each note also bears a face plate number and a back plate number for production identification and tracking by specialists in U.S. currency.
In Crisp Uncirculated (CU) condition, the 2003A $5 note exhibits no folds, creases, stains, or other signs of wear. Its corners are sharp and square, and the paper remains crisp, bright, and fully original in texture. The ink is bold and well-centered, and embossing from the raised printing process is usually still visible and tactile. This level of preservation significantly enhances the appeal and value of the note. Uncirculated examples are ideal for collectors assembling modern type sets, as well as those looking to preserve a high-grade specimen from the final traditional $5 series.
While these notes were produced in substantial quantities for general circulation, relatively few were set aside in pristine condition. Most entered circulation and suffered wear, creasing, and soiling typical of everyday handling. As a result, demand for CU examples has increased over time. The 2003A series is also notable for being the last to feature the “old-style” design before the extensive updates of 2006 added large off-center numerals, modern color palettes, watermarks, and anti-counterfeiting security threads. This gives the 2003A a “last of its kind” status, much like the 1995 or 1999 notes before it in their respective denominations.
Though the 2003A $5 is not rare, its status as the final bearer of the traditional small-size design makes it a key issue for modern currency collectors. Collectors of Federal Reserve Notes often seek one note from each district in CU grade, while others pursue examples by printing facility, signature combination, or serial number pattern. Special examples with radar, low, binary, or repeater serial numbers, or certified notes in Gem CU 66 or higher by PMG or PCGS Banknote, can command premiums. STAR notes from this series are scarcer and even more desirable in uncirculated condition.
In conclusion, the 2003A $5 Federal Reserve Note in Crisp Uncirculated condition serves as a cornerstone of early 21st-century U.S. currency history. Representing the end of an era before significant design and security transformations, it offers collectors a pristine example of traditional American note aesthetics. Its classic design, refined intaglio printing, and strong preservation in CU grade ensure that it remains a valuable and meaningful addition to any modern currency collection.