By SABRINA PARKER
Observer Contributor
March 26, 2008

The Federal Reserve has introduced a redesigned $5 bill. Last year more than $60 million in counterfeit money was passed in the United States. In response to counterfeiting, the $5 bill has been given state-of-the-art security features that should make it harder to duplicate and easier to use. But the five’s new color makes some people question its authenticity.

There is a large purple five located on the back of the bill. It may look like a special high-tech blend of colors was used to create the purple printed on the five, but it is not. It is a true purple that can be duplicated. Cashiers and shoppers are encouraged to look for two watermarks and a security thread to verify a real bill, not color.