$2 bills could be worth thousands but all depends on condition, rarity (2024)

Could that odd $2 bill your grandfather gave you be worth more than two bucks?

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Potentially, but it all depends on when it was printed and the condition it is in.

The idea that a single bill could net its owner thousands of dollars has been floating around the internet for months but recently went viral this week as people look for treasure in their wallets.

The U.S. Currency Auctions guide says that bills can range from their face value of $2 to $4,500 for 1890 Treasury Notes that have either a red or brown seal and have never been circulated. If you have the same treasury note that has been circulated, the value is slashed by about half to $2,500 if the currency is in extremely fine condition. A bill that is rated fine for the same year could fetch $550 if the right buyer is found.

Previous stories by WFLA and Fox Business from February reported similar values.

Other variables that will determine the value of the bill include having a low serial number. USA Today reported that a $2 bill printed in 2003 sold at auction for $2,400 because of the low serial number for that series, according to Heritage Auctions. The same bill was resold for $4,000 and if sold again could fetch about $6,000.

Heritage Auctions has one $2 bill from 1869 that will go up for sale in a few weeks. A similar one sold for $12,000 at the auction house.

The $2 bill isn’t used much. The Treasury tried to promote the bill, but it was a failure. The government had stopped issuing new ones for a few years, but it was reintroduced in 1976 for the country’s bicentennial, USA Today reported.

The latest versions have Thomas Jefferson on the front and a portrait of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back.

There were about 1.5 billion $2 bills in circulation in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve.

The U.S. Currency Auctions guide is a compilation of values for several amounts of U.S. currency, including $1, $20 and even a $10,000 note.

$2 bills could be worth thousands but all depends on condition, rarity (2024)

FAQs

$2 bills could be worth thousands but all depends on condition, rarity? ›

Depending on the year and how a $2 bill was circulated, some $2 bills are now worth thousands. A $2 currency note printed in 2003 sold online in mid-2022 for $2,400 on Heritage Auctions. The same bill sold again for $4,000 roughly two weeks later, according to the Texas-based auction house.

Why would a $2 bill be worth thousands of dollars? ›

That $2 bill you're holding could be worth up to $4,500, depending on a number of factors, including series year, type, and seal color, according to United States Currency Auctions. If your $2 bill dates back to 1886 and has a red seal with a silver certificate, you're in luck. That bill is worth $4,500.

Will $2 bills ever be rare? ›

However, $2 bills are considered rare in comparison to our other currency and have even been known to be worth thousands of dollars. There are a number of factors that can make your $2 worth more than $2. First, there are one of two Founding Fathers that may appear on it: Alexander Hamilton or Thomas Jefferson.

How can I check my $2 bills they could be worth upwards of $4500? ›

If the $2 bill was minted and printed before 1976, it would likely be 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 in value from $550 to $2,500.

What makes a $2 rare? ›

2-dollar bills account for less than 0.001% of all currency in circulation. One of the reasons 2-dollar bills are so uncommon is that fewer of them were printed. No one wanted them. In fact, 2-dollar bills weren't even produced from 1970 through 1975 because of a lack of demand.

What makes a 1976 $2 bill rare? ›

Serial numbers

“A serial number '1' for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more. But [for] a majority of those people holding 1976 $2 bills, they are only worth face value. There are very few that actually exceed face value.” Other high-value serial numbers include what collectors call “solid” or “ladders.”

What $2 bill is worth $4,500? ›

For example, an uncirculated 1890 series $2 bill with a brown seal can be worth at least $4,500. A circulated $2 bill with a red seal can sell for $2.25 to $2,500. The U.S. Currency Education Program said there are 1.2 billion $2 notes in circulation.

What $2 bill is worth $20,000? ›

“A serial number '1′ for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more. But for a majority of those people holding 1976 $2 bills, they are only worth face value.

How do I check if my $2 bill is worth anything? ›

You can find the value of your $2 bill by visiting their U.S. currency price guide online at uscurrencyauctions.com. U.S. Currency Auctions estimates that uncirculated $2 bills from 1890 could sell for up to $4,500, and uncirculated bills from nearly every year between 1862 and 1917 for at least $1,000.

What is the rarest dollar bill? ›

12 of the Most Valuable $1 Bills Still in Circulation
  • 1890 $1 Treasury Note: $1,000.
  • 1928 $1 Bill: $1,000.
  • 1923 $1 Bill: $1,000.
  • 1917 $1 Legal Tender Note: $1,150.
  • 1899 $1 Silver Certificate: $1,500.
  • 1896 $1 Silver Certificates: $2,000.
  • 1886 $ 1 United States Note: $2,500.
  • 1869 $1 United States Note: $2,500.
Mar 5, 2024

Can a $2 bill be worth thousands? ›

To find the value of your $2 bill, look at the year and seal color. Bills with red, brown and blue seals from 1862 through 1917 can be worth up to $1,000 or more, according to the U.S. Currency Auctions website. You can find the value of your $2 bill by visiting the U.S. currency price guide.

Can you get $2 bills at the bank anymore? ›

Local banks should have $2 bills. If your bank does not have any current inventory, it can order $2 bills from the Federal Reserve Bank. Where can I purchase uncut sheet of currency? You can purchase uncut currency from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Off-site).

How much can a 2 dollar bill be worth today? ›

A circulated $2 bill, even if it's from the 1800s, may only be worth a few hundred dollars, the auction service reports. Newer bills, like one printed in 2003, could also have significant value. A $2 bill recently sold at an auction for $2,400, according to Heritage Auction. (It later resold for $4,000.)

Where can I sell my two dollar bills? ›

5 Best Places To Sell Rare Coins and Paper Money
  • Heritage Auctions. Heritage Auctions is the largest collectibles auctioneer and the third-largest auction house in the world. ...
  • eBay. ...
  • Stack's Bowers Galleries. ...
  • APMEX. ...
  • Your Local Coin Dealer.
Mar 12, 2024

Where is the seal on a $2 bill? ›

A green seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The design of the seal was changed to incorporate an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later.

Can a $2 bill be worth thousands of dollars? ›

What is my $2 bill worth? To find the value of your $2 bill, look at the year and seal color. Bills with red, brown and blue seals from 1862 through 1917 can be worth up to $1,000 or more on the U.S. Currency Auctions website, which bases the value on recent and past paper currency auctions.

How do I know if my $2 bill is worth a lot? ›

To find the value of your $2 bill, look at the year and seal color. Bills with red, brown and blue seals from 1862 through 1917 can be worth up to $1,000 or more, according to the U.S. Currency Auctions website. You can find the value of your $2 bill by visiting the U.S. currency price guide.

Are some $2 bills worth $20,000? ›

Some uncirculated U.S. $2 bills may be worth up to $20,000, but it depends on a few factors, according to Heritage Auctions, one of the largest auction houses in the world. And it's possible that you could have one tucked away in your wallet or in your kitchen junk drawer.

Are certain $2 dollar bills worth anything? ›

A circulated $2 bill, even if it's from the 1800s, may only be worth a few hundred dollars, the auction service reports. Newer bills, like one printed in 2003, could also have significant value. A $2 bill recently sold at an auction for $2,400, according to Heritage Auction. (It later resold for $4,000.)

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