Got a $2 bill? It could be worth a fortune; here’s how to find out

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. The implication being that the casual note in your pocket could turn out to be more than you can imagine.
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.

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 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.