1963 $5 Red Seal Bill Value
The 1963 $5 red seal closed out the United States Note, a form of currency that had been in continuous issue since the Civil War. Only two series were printed, 1963 and 1963A, and after them the Treasury never issued another.
It is a genuinely historic note that is also genuinely common. Millions survive. A circulated example is a few dollars over face and a crisp one is in the twenties to forties.
Quick facts
- Type
- United States Note
- Series
- 1963, 1963A
- Seal and serials
- Red
- Significance
- Last United States Note issued
- Motto
- In God We Trust on the back
1963 $5 Red Seal value by condition
| Condition | Estimated value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Well worn | $6 to $8 | |
| Lightly circulated | $8 to $12 | |
| About uncirculated | $14 to $22 | |
| Crisp uncirculated | $22 to $45 | |
| Star note, circulated | $12 to $30 | |
| Star note, uncirculated | $40 to $150 |
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The end of a currency class
United States Notes, also called Legal Tender Notes or greenbacks, began in 1862 to fund the Civil War. They were issued directly by the Treasury and were the first federal paper money not redeemable in coin on demand.
The 1963 $5 is the last of that hundred year line. A statutory floor kept a fixed dollar amount of them outstanding until Congress repealed it, at which point the Treasury simply stopped reprinting. That is why the series ends where it does.
Telling 1963 from 1953 at a glance
Both are red seal fives with Lincoln and the Memorial. The quickest separator is the motto: the 1963 series carries In God We Trust above the Memorial on the back and the 1953 does not.
The obligation wording on the face also changed slightly, dropping the older payable to the bearer on demand phrasing.
Star notes are where to look
Regular 1963 and 1963A fives are common enough that condition is the only lever. Star notes are a different story, particularly in uncirculated grade, where the replacement runs were small relative to demand.
If you have a 1963 $5 star that has never been folded, it is worth photographing properly and pricing against completed sales rather than assuming the general range applies.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the 1963 $5 the last red seal?
Congress repealed the requirement that a fixed amount of United States Notes stay in circulation. Without that mandate the Treasury had no reason to keep printing a parallel currency, so it stopped.
Is a 1963 $5 red seal rare?
No. It is historically significant but was printed in large numbers and survives in quantity. Star notes in high grade are the scarce part.
Can I spend a 1963 red seal $5?
Legally yes, it is worth five dollars as currency. Practically no, since it is worth more than that to a collector even in worn condition.