Your $2 bill may be worth a lot more than you think

At one time, individuals with superstitions held the belief that the $2 bill was considered “unlucky” and was associated with a curse.

However, the $2 bill does not bring misfortune to its possessor; rather, it has the potential to bring considerable luck and even a few thousand dollars.

Continue reading to discover how to assess the value of your $2 bill!

Historically regarded as the overlooked counterpart to the $1 bill, the $2 note has frequently been dismissed by numerous Americans. There are those who mistakenly believe that $2 bills are scarce, no longer printed, or have been withdrawn from circulation.

However, as of 2023, the Federal Reserve indicates that there are 1.6 billion fresh $2 bills in circulation, a modest figure when juxtaposed with the 14.5 billion $1 bills and 11.2 billion $20 bills.

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The banknote, often overlooked, has experienced a gradual increase in popularity over the last two decades. In 2004, only 0.07 billion of these notes were in circulation, representing a mere fraction of the $24.2 billion in total currency that year.

According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), “$2 notes have historically been unpopular, often regarded as unlucky or cumbersome for transactions.”

The BEP further notes that superstitious individuals frequently returned these notes to the Treasury with torn corners, rendering them mutilated currency and unsuitable for reissue, in an attempt to counteract their perceived misfortune.

Meanwhile, the New York Times wrote in a 1925 article, “He who sits in a game of chance with a two-dollar bill in his pocket is thought to be saddled with a jinx. They have been avoided as ill-starred.”

The banknote is even the star of a documentary, The Two Dollar Bill, a 2015 film that explores “all aspects of the deuce, from its history to the many superstitions surrounding it.”

Despite their lack of popularity, the $2 bill is still underestimated and is at least worth two dollars.

Some $2 notes, however, may be valued at thousands.

History

In 1862, the first official $2 banknote was printed with the face of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father of the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, on the front.

It was in 1869 that the bill was redesigned to feature a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, a key image that remains unchanged to this day.

On the flipside was the picture of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s estate in Virginia, but the back was changed to a vignette of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the famous document authored by Jefferson.

Fetching a fortune

The $2 bill is closely associated with the portrait of Thomas Jefferson; however, the reverse side of the note has undergone various modifications over time, as have certain aspects of the front, such as the positioning and dimensions of the image, as well as the introduction of additional colors.

Moreover, some of these bills may possess a value significantly exceeding their face value.

To determine the worth of your $2 bill, examine the year of issue and the color of the seal. Uncirculated bills from 1862 to 1896 featuring red, brown, or blue seals can command prices around $5,000 at U.S. Currency Auctions. Conversely, circulated bills from the same period, even if somewhat worn, may still be valued at up to $1,100.

Additionally, paper notes with red or blue seals issued between 1917 and 1928 can range in value from $50 to $1,000, contingent upon their condition.

The auction site reports that collectors offer these rates depending on factors such as printing method and location.

Also, some notes come with “fancy serial numbers,” so if you’re lucky to find one of these very rare notes, your two dollars can be worth up to $6,000.

Do you have a rare $2 bill? Please let us know what you think of this story and make sure you share it with your friends!

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