Part of the first family of machine-readable banknotes introduced in the 1980s by the Bank of Italy, the 5,000 lire banknote is a green, blue, and orange note that measures 126 mm long and 70 mm wide. The front side features the seal of the Maritime Republics, an inside view of the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Sicily, and the opera composer Vincenzo Bellini. The back side depicts a scene from Bellinis opera Norma. The notes security features include a solid security thread, a watermark of Bellini, and an electrotype watermark of BI monogram. This banknote has been given a grade of 67 by the Paper Money Guaranty.