$5 Franklin

The 5-dollar stamp with the image of Benjamin Franklin was the highest value in the Third Bureau series. Like the 2-dollar stamp, it is bi-color, having a green frame and black vignette. While the stamp was issued for use on heavy items or valuable items that required registration with substantial indemnity, the fact is that $5.00 was a substantial amount of money when the stamp was issued in August 1918 (and throughout its lifetime), and so demand for this stamp was limited. Even though a replacement 5-dollar stamp was issued in 1923, the Franklin stamp remained current and was issued to postmasters through fiscal year 1933. Over 296,650 of the 5-dollar Franklin stamps were issued, and examples are quite scarce.