Before you casually hand over that $2 bill for a cup of coffee, you might want to take a closer look. While many $2 notes are only worth their face value (or slightly more), certain editions have sold for hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars at auction. That simple piece of paper in your wallet could be a hidden treasure.
In 2022, a $2 bill printed in 2003 made headlines when it sold for $2,400 on Heritage Auctions. Just two weeks later, the same bill was resold for an even higher price—$4,000. Other $2 bills from the same year have fetched hundreds of dollars, depending on factors like their condition, rarity, and unique serial numbers.
A brief history of the $2 bill
The U.S. first introduced the $2 bill in 1862, originally featuring Alexander Hamilton. It wasn’t until 1869 that Thomas Jefferson took over as the face of the denomination, and his image has remained ever since. Over the years, the design has undergone six updates, with the modern version featuring Jefferson on the front and a depiction of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back.
Credit: Canva
Despite being in circulation today, the $2 bill has always been somewhat of an oddity. In the early 20th century, the U.S. Treasury attempted to popularize it, but due to superstitions and its association with illegal activities like voter bribery, the effort largely failed. After a period of discontinuation, the bill was reintroduced in 1976 to commemorate America’s bicentennial.
How much is your $2 Bill worth?
If you’re curious about the value of your $2 bill, start by checking the year and the seal color.
Notes with red, brown, or blue seals from 1862-1917 can be worth up to $1,000 or more, depending on their condition and rarity.
Uncirculated 1890 bills can fetch as much as $4,500 at auction.
Even bills that are nearly a century old tend to sell between $35 and $90 on average.
Most recent $2 bills (from the 2000s and beyond) aren’t particularly rare, with many selling for just a few dollars over face value. However, some high-demand 2003 notes have sold for thousands.
A complete set of 12 uncirculated $2 notes from 1995 in their original packaging can be worth $500 or more.
Credit: Canva
If you suspect your $2 bill might be valuable, you can check its worth using the U.S. Currency Auctions website (uscurrencyauctions.com), which tracks auction history and collector prices.
A rarity, but not rare
While the $2 bill is uncommon, it isn’t exactly rare. According to the Federal Reserve, there were about $3 billion worth of $2 bills in circulation in 2022—a small fraction compared to the total $54.1 billion in U.S. currency that year.
Still, some collectors are willing to pay a premium for unique or well-preserved $2 bills. So before you spend yours, it might be worth checking—you could be holding a small fortune in your hands.