Even an uncirculated $2 bill won't be worth more than face value if it was printed after 1976. However, most $2 bills were created between 1862 and 1918, and these are highly collectible, fetching at least $50 in well-circulated condition.
Most $2 bills in circulation are worth exactly that: $2. And even though you don't see a lot of $2 bills in everyday life, they are still being printed.
Published: Mar. 07, 2023, 9:00 a.m.
Average Market Value and Price Range
As of May 2023, the average market value of a 1976 $2 dollar bill is around $3 to $5 in circulated condition. However, uncirculated bills in crisp condition can fetch up to $30 or more depending on their rarity and condition.
Many Americans thought the newly designed bill, which was produced for the United States Bicentennial, was going to be a special printing; therefore, the bills were saved as collectors' items – tucked away in safe deposit boxes, drawers, and keepsake boxes, for a hope of future value.
"The $2 bill was often thought to be bad luck, as 'deuce' was a name for the devil," CNB St. Louis Bank wrote. "Recipients would tear off one corner, believing it would negate the bad luck of the bill. This caused many of the bills to be taken out of circulation as mutilated currency."
2-dollar bills can range in value from two dollars to $1000 or more. If you have a pre-1913 2-dollar bill in uncirculated condition, it is worth at least $500. Even in circulated condition, these very old 2-dollar bills are worth $100 and up.
Most large-size $2 bills issued from 1862 through 1918, are highly collectible and are worth at least $100 in well-circulated condition. Uncirculated large-size notes are worth at least $500 and can go up to $10,000 or more.
The highest value for a $2 note was found on 1890 Treasury Note versions, with the circulated version worth between $550 and $2,500, or at least $4,500 if uncirculated. The collector value is the same for both versions of the 1890 bill, either with a brown seal or a red one.
According to the USCA website, any $2 bill with a red seal printed between 1862 and and 1896 is worth big bucks. The top payout is $4,500, and that's if the bill was printed in 1890 and uncirculated. Other $2 bills with the red seal range in worth from $300 to $2,500.
If you have a $2 bill with a red seal that was printed in 1890 and uncirculated, it is now worth $4,500. Other $2 bills with a red seal can fetch between $300 and $2,500, while ones with brown or blue seals can fetch hundreds of dollars. The $2 bill is not rare, but it is uncommon.
In addition, older versions of the bill are consistently listed at higher prices. Bills issued with a brown or red seal during the 1800s are the most valuable at the moment, with some fetching prices as high as $4,500.
However, you might have this money with the hope to spend it. So you could be asking, “Are 2 dollar bills worth anything?” We're going to dive into that but, spoiler alert: A $2 bill is legal tender, and therefore, you should be able to use it at any establishment that accepts cash.
Even an uncirculated $2 bill won't be worth more than face value if it was printed after 1976. However, most $2 bills were created between 1862 and 1918, and these are highly collectible, fetching at least $50 in well-circulated condition.
Further, because silver certificates were soon to be no longer redeemable in silver, WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND was removed from the obverse. In August 1966, the $2 and $5 denominations of United States Notes were officially discontinued, though they both remain legal tender.
Palindromes are words or numbers that read the same way, backward or forward. Some very rare $2 bills from 1976 feature serial numbers that are also palindromes. Because these bills are so rare, they can be quite pricey, fetching as much as $95. The ladder is the rarest variety of the 1976 two-dollar series.
Each note has a unique serial number. The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year.
The 1995 series two dollar bills are worth around $5 each in uncirculated condition with an MS 63 grade.
July 1862: The first $2 bill was issued as a Legal Tender Note (United States Note) with a portrait of Alexander Hamilton; the portrait of Hamilton used was a profile view and is unlike the portrait used currently for the $10 bill.
What Is a Silver Certificate Dollar Bill Worth Today? These certificates no longer carry monetary value as an exchange for silver, yet they are still legal tender at their face value. In the market, silver certificates are often worth more than their face value (e.g., $1) as collectors still seek out these prints.
Value of $2 from 1975 to 2023
$2 in 1975 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $11.28 today, an increase of $9.28 over 48 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.67% per year between 1975 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 463.87%.
The 2013 two dollar bill is not a rare or valuable bill. Therefore most of these bills will not be worth much more than face value. However there are star note varieties which are more valuable than the standard notes.
Low or High Serial Numbers: Those below 1000 or 100, for example 00000100, can sell for $300. In the case of highs it would be 99999900, or something similar. Of course, there are exceptions: A serial number 00000001 could be worth up to $15,000.