Your $2 bill could be worth thousands (2024)

If you’ve got some old $2 bills tucked away somewhere, you might want to check the serial numbers. They could be worth a lot more than their face value.

According to Heritage Auctions — the largest collectible currency auction house in the world — $2 bills, which have been issued since 1929, have recently caught the attention of collectors, with some rare examples going for thousands at auction.

Recent sales include a 2003 bill with a low serial number that fetched $2,400 — only to be resold for $4,000.

While the bills were largely withdrawn from circulation since the late 70s, the bills have continued to be printed, so they’re not quite as rare as many people think.

“Americans don’t spend $2 bills, because they think they are markedly scarce. However, the numbers tell us a different story,” Dustin Johnston, vice president of Heritage Auctions, told MarketWatch. “Just in the last five years, they’ve printed 100 million $2 bills. The fact that they don’t circulate and are kept as mementos is a little bit odd. Very few of them have numismatic or collector value.”

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What to look for

So what separates an an ordinary $2 bill from a valuable collectors item? It all comes down to three factors: the serial number, the date and the note’s condition.

“What we look at is fancy serial numbers,” Johnston said. “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.”

According to MarketWatch, other highly-prized serial numbers include “solids” — when all the numbers are the same, like 2222222222 — and “ladders” — where the serial number is sequential, like 12345678910.

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Much more collectible are the extra large notes issued before 1918.

“Beyond the fancy serial numbers, most of the value is going to be in the large size notes from 1918 and prior. The 1918s are very common. They typically start at $80 to $100 and go up from there,” Johnston added. “The more recent ones, the 1920s and beyond, well over 99% are going to be worth marginally over face value.”

If you have a $2 bill and want to check its value, visit the Heritage Auctions website, where you can upload an image of your bill.

Your $2 bill could be worth thousands (2024)

FAQs

Your $2 bill could be worth thousands? ›

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.

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

According to the US Currency Pricing guide, depending on certain factors, that $2 face value could be worth a lot more, even up to $5,000. A recent auction just saw one sell for almost $2,500. Although $2 bills are rare to find, if you own one, there's a chance it has a high value.

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

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. A number of other iterations of the $2 bills with a red seal can also fetch well over a $1,000. Bills with brown seals are also very valuable.

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.

Are some $2 bills 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. There are very few that actually exceed face value.” Other high-value serial numbers include what collectors call “solid” or “ladders.”

What is a rare $2 bill to look for? ›

$2 BILLS FROM 1890 COULD BE WORTH OVER $4,500: REPORT

Now they, along with consumers, are on the hunt for bills in the serial number range — and eventually are hoping to find matching pairs of dollar bills with the same serial numbers, as that's where the value lies.

What are rare $2 bills to look for? ›

Newer versions with a green seal are likely worth face value, but denominations with a red seal have a higher value. And if you are searching for a $2 bill worth a lot of money, the bill would have to be dated pre-1900, with a "very high graded condition," FOX 13 noted.

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.

Is a $2 bill worth $5000? ›

According to online auction service U.S. Currency Auctions, if the bill was minted and printed before 1976, it could actually be worth as much as $4,500. That eye-popping price also depends on if the bill was uncirculated.

Can a $2 bill be worth more? ›

Newer versions with a green seal are likely worth face value, but denominations with a red seal have a higher value. And if you are searching for a $2 bill worth a lot of money, the bill would have to be dated pre-1900, with a "very high graded condition," FOX 13 noted.

How much is a 1976 $2 bill worth today? ›

“What we look at is fancy serial numbers,” Johnston said. “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.

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

How do I check the serial number on my $2 bill? ›

Serial Number

A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note. Each note has a unique serial number. The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year.

Are $1 silver certificates worth anything? ›

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.

What is a 1953 $2 bill worth? ›

There were four different series of 1953 two dollar bills 1953, 53A, 53B, and 53C. Star notes for these series are worth RETAIL, 1953 $22, 53A $19, 53B $20, and 53C $25.

Where is the seal color on a 2 dollar 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.

How much can a $2 dollar bill sell for? ›

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.)

How much can you sell a 1976 $2 bill for? ›

Any $2 bill dating back to 1976 that has been in circulation – and any uncirculated versions since 2003 – are worth only their face value, USCA says. Uncirculated bills between 1976 and 2003 range in estimated value from $2.25 to as much as $500.

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

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