The largest denomination currency ever printed was Zimbabwe's 100 Trillion Dollar note in 2009, a response to hyperinflation, though it was worth very little in real terms; for US currency, the highest was the $100,000 Gold Certificate (1934) for inter-bank use, while the largest for public circulation was the $10,000 note, both discontinued due to lack of use.
The largest note ever printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was the $100,000 Gold Certificate, Series 1934.
Unlike the other denominations of US dollars, the $100,000 bill was never issued as a Federal Reserve Note (a.k.a. greenback). It was only issued in the form of a gold certificate. About 42,000 of the $100,000 bills were printed.
The United States no longer issues bills in larger denominations, such as $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills. But they are still legal tender and may still be in circulation. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing creates U.S. paper currency.
The $10,000 bill featuring the portrait of President Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, was the highest denomination US currency ever to publicly circulate.
Although 42,000 were printed, only 12 remain in existence and it's illegal to own one. (Issued in 1934-1935. The approximate buying power: 2.4 Million dollars in today's money).
Large denomination bills are unavailable through banks. You cannot expect to stroll into a local branch and ask for a $500, a $1000, or anything higher.
As of May 30, 2009, only 336 $10,000 bills were known to exist, along with 342 $5,000 bills, 165,372 $1,000 bills and fewer than 75,000 $500 bills (of over 900,000 printed). Due to their rarity, collectors pay considerably more than the face value of the bills to acquire them, and some are in museums.
$2 Bill Value
If you have a $2 bill that was minted and printed before 1976, it's likely 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 from $550 to $2,500.
According to auction results, the most valuable one-dollar bill is an 1874 $1 United States Note. It sold in March 2024 for $26,400 through Stack's Bowers Galleries. This bill stands out not only for its rarity but also for its condition. Very few similar bills are so well-preserved.
The area covered by 1,000,000 one dollar bills measures 111,287.5 square feet. This would cover an area approximately equal to the size of two football fields.
“A serial number '1′ for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more,” Dustin Johnston, vice president of Heritage Auctions, told MarketWatch. Other high-value serial numbers include so-called “ladder” or “solid” numbers. Solid serial numbers are codes that have the same digit, such as 88888888888.
The value of the 1950 $100 Federal Reserve Note Mule varies significantly based on its condition, rarity, and demand in the collector market. Notes in lower grades may still fetch several hundred dollars, while those in AU or UNC condition can reach thousands of dollars at auction.
The restrictions on private ownership of gold certificates were revoked by Treasury Secretary Douglas Dillon effective April 24, 1964, primarily to allow collectors to own examples legally; however, gold certificates are no longer redeemable for gold, but instead can be exchanged at face value for other U.S. coin and ...
The largest value banknote in circulation is the 10,000 Brunei Dollar (BND), which is equivalent to approximately $7,500 USD as of 2025. This note is issued by the Monetary Authority of Brunei Darussalam and is interchangeable with the Singapore Dollar due to a longstanding currency agreement.
Keep in mind that the U.S. has never produced a $200 bill. Also - living presidents are never depicted on currency. And check out those signs on the White House lawn.
Most bill acceptors found in vending machines, self checkout lanes, transit systems, ATM's and other automated kiosks are configured to accommodate two-dollar bills, even if the fact is not stated on the device.
Many people think $2 bills are rare, but in reality, there are millions still in circulation, and they continue to be printed. However, while most $2 bills are only worth their face value, certain ones can fetch thousands of dollars on the collectors market. The market for collectible $2 bills is quite active.
A note from the most recent issuance of 1934 can easily cost anywhere between $150,000 and $200,000. Older issuances, which are even rarer, cost even more. Depending on the circumstances, you may have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to have one of these notes.
The $10,000 note was the highest denomination of US currency to be used by the public. These notes are still legal tender, and thus banks will redeem them for face value.
Though a gold three-dollar coin was produced in the 1800s, and the Bahamian dollar (which is pegged to the US dollar) has a $3 banknote, no three-dollar bill has ever been produced in the United States.
A specific type of misprinted $1 bill from the 2013 Series, particularly in matching pairs, can be worth up to $150,000 to collectors, due to an error where millions were printed with duplicate serial numbers. To identify one, check for a "Series 2013" date near George Washington's photo, a "B" Federal Reserve seal, and a serial number ending in a star (★) within specific ranges (e.g., B00000001★ - B00250000★).
The $100,000 bill is the highest denomination ever issued by the U.S. Federal Government. Printed in 1934, it was not intended for general use, but instead was used as an accounting device between branches of the Federal Reserve. It is illegal for a private individual to own this banknote.
The U.S. Treasury officially stopped issuing the $1,000 bill in 1969 as part of a broader effort to combat money laundering and other illicit activities. By that time, electronic banking and wire transfers had largely replaced the need for large-denomination physical currency in legitimate transactions.
Obverse Image: Portrait of Salmon P. Chase. Reverse Image: The Embarkment of the Pilgrims.