Check Your $2 Bills — They Could Be Worth Big Bucks If They Feature These Rarities

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If you have a circulated $2 bill burning a hole in your pocket, think twice before spending it at some store. The bill itself might be worth a lot more than two dollars — enough to build some serious wealth.

Certain rare $2 bills can fetch $4,500 and up on the collectibles market, according to the U.S. Currency Auctions (USCA) website. Just about all of the really valuable ones were printed in the 19^th century. But even bills printed within the last 30 years might be worth hundreds of dollars — if you have the right one.

$2 Bill History

The $2 bill was first printed in 1862 and is still in circulation today in the United States. It originally featured a portrait of Alexander Hamilton, but that changed with an 1869 redesign that featured Thomas Jefferson. The most recent edition of the $2 bill was designed in 1963, according to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Most $2 bills are worth only their face value, but some can be worth much more if they are old, in excellent condition, have printing errors, are uncirculated or feature a rare serial number. 

Older dollar bills from the 19th century, such as 1862 and 1869 U.S. Notes featuring Hamilton or the 1890 Treasury Note featuring Jefferson, are the most valuable, potentially fetching thousands of dollars. For more recent bills, unique features like special serial numbers (e.g., low numbers, zeros) or errors (like an inverted overprint) are key to higher value.

$2 Bill Value

If you have a $2 bill that was minted and printed before 1976, it’s likely worth more than its face value on the collectibles market. In some cases, it might be worth only $2.25. The highest value is $4,500 or more for uncirculated notes from 1890, although most of those bills range from $550 to $2,500. The values are the same whether the bill has a red or brown seal.

An original uncirculated $2 bill from 1862 ranges in value from $500 to more than $2,800. You might get $3,800 or more for an 1869 note.

More recently, the USCA lists a value of $500 on certain uncirculated $2 bills from 1995. If you have a $2 bill from the 2003 premium Federal Reserve set of 12, you could get $700 or more. Here are some key factors that could increase the potential value of your bill:

• The older the bill, the more valuable it tends to be, with bills from the 19th and early 20th centuries being particularly sought after by collectors.
• Uncirculated or mint-condition bills are worth significantly more than those that are worn and creased.
• Any mistakes or printing errors during the printing process, such as inverted overprints, can make a $2 bill very valuable.
• Low serial numbers or rare patterns, such as one with all zeros followed by a one, can increase a bill’s worth.
• Some star notes, which have a star symbol in place of a letter at the end of the serial number or a red seal, can also have a higher value.
• Certain $2 bills from limited Federal Reserve premium sets, like the 1995 or 2003 sets, are more valuable than regular circulation notes.

Final Take To GO

The bottom line is that most $2 bills in circulation are worth exactly that: $2. And even though you don’t see a lot of these bills in everyday life, they are still being printed. The Treasury Department’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) planned to print up to 204 million worth of $2 bills in 2022. According to the latest data from the Federal Reserve, there were 1.4 billion $2 bills in circulation in 2020.

Remember, though: No matter how much your $2 bill is worth on the collectibles market, if you spend it at a store, you won’t be able to get more than $2 worth of merchandise. So shop wisely.

Vance Cariaga contributed to the reporting of this article.

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