does not show all fifty states on it. There were only 48 states at the time of the building of the monument. In fact, anyone with both a magnifying glass and a $5 US note can see there are only 26 state names on the reverse of the note:

This is taken from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing website:

Vignette on the Reverse of the $5 Note

The vignette on the reverse of the five-dollar note depicts a likeness of the front of the Lincoln Memorial as it appeared in 1922 when it was first dedicated. At that time, there were only 48 states that made up the United States of America. The names of 26 states were engraved on the front of the Memorial. This is why only the names of 26 states appear in the vignette on the reverse of the five-dollar note. In the upper frieze of the façade in the vignette the states are from left to right: Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, and North Dakota. In the lower frieze from left to right the names of the states are: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia and New York.

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I am fairly certain that they are listed in the order of admission to the Union, starting with Delaware on the lower frieze and ending with hmmm either NM or AZ. Both admitted in 1912, if memory serves me, but can't remembre which was last.



TEd