Your $2 Bills Could Be Worth Thousands

Getting your hands on a $2 bill might be exciting at first, but $2 bills are the unappreciated and awkward little sibling of the currency set. While most of these Thomas Jefferson-clad greenbacks are worth exactly $2 (over 204 million were produced in 2022 alone), some rare variants can be worth thousands on the auction market. So, next time you think about using your $2 bill to buy a soda, give it a once-over — your $2 bill could be worth much more.

How to Determine if Your $2 Bill Is Valuable

There are several characteristics to look for when figuring out if a $2 bill is valuable. First, note the condition — crumbled or torn money is far less valuable than flat bills devoid of creases. Then, look for the seal. If it’s red, blue, or brown, you know your $2 bill was minted before 1976, making it less likely to be mass-produced. Bills with a red seal and a silver certificate are considered the most valuable option, but blue and brown are also rare. Finally, check and see whose portrait is on the bill. Anyone besides Thomas Jefferson almost guarantees extra value.

The serial number may also elevate the value of a $2 bill, as interested buyers always look for unique number combinations. For example, if your $2 bill has the serial number 88888888 or 00000001, then that’s going to be worth a lot more. Websites like the Fancy Serial Number Checker help determine the rarity and possible value if you're curious to investigate further.

Valuable $2 Bills From the 1800s

The first $2 bill was issued in 1862 with a portrait of the country’s first secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton. (Yes, he was a big deal even before the musical.) According to the U.S. Currency Auctions, uncirculated $2 bills from that inaugural year are worth more than $2,800 to the right collector, while circulated versions are valued between $500 and $1,000, depending on condition. 

In 1869, the $2 bill was redesigned to feature America’s third President, Thomas Jefferson. This version is very valuable among collectors, with uncirculated $2 bills from 1869 worth more than $3,800. 

The most valuable $2 bill minted from the 1800s is the 1890 variant, which features Civil War General James McPherson. This bill is technically a Treasury note (a short-lived concept from 1890 to 1893), which makes the note valuable due to its scarcity. Circulated copies of this 1890 bill range between $500 and $2,500, while uncirculated ones sell for over $4,500.

Valuable $2 Bills From the 1900s

Most $2 bills printed throughout the 1900s are unsurprisingly less valuable than their 1800s counterparts. However, many are still worth more than $2. The most valuable $2 bill minted in the 1900s is an uncirculated version with a blue seal from 1918 worth over $1,000. The same can be said for an uncirculated bill with a red seal from the 1928B series, valued at over $1,000. However, prices of $2 bills minted after 1928 dip dramatically, with most only worth $2.50 to $25.

Valuable BEP Limited Edition Sets

While most $2 bills minted in the ‘90s aren’t particularly valuable, there’s one notable exception. In 1995, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing released a series of limited edition sets containing $2 bills from each of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts. Together, the bills are worth more than $500. The BEP continued this tradition in 2003, releasing a new set of matching $2 bills, which have sold for upwards of $700 in past auctions.

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