$2 bill was once considered 'unlucky' — now it could be worth $4,500 (2024)

FAQs

$2 bill was once considered 'unlucky' — now it could be worth $4,500? ›

Well, it's time to take a closer look at those bills, as they may be worth more than you think. U.S. Currency Auctions estimates that uncirculated $2 bills from 1890 could sell for at least $4,500, and uncirculated bills from nearly every year between 1862 and 1917 for at least $1,000.

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.

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 from $550 to $2,500.

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.

Unless it has a unique feature, like a low serial number or misprint, a newer $2 bill likely isn't worth much more than $2, even if it's uncirculated.

“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.”

One way to determine if a $2 bill is worth more than another is the color of the seal and also the age of the bill. Newer versions with a green seal are likely worth face value, but denominations with a red seal have a higher value.

Some people carry $2 bills in their wallets or purses for good fortune. Some also believe the $2 bill is lucky because it's considered a "rare" denomination (in reality, it's just less common), while others say it's lucky because of its association with Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence.

Most Current $2 bills Are Not Collectible

The only $2 Federal Reserve Notes that are collectibles are special products consisting of notes not put into circulation and are sold through the B.E.P; also, Series 1976 $2 bills with a canceled stamp are collectibles.

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.

Which dollar bill is worth $150,000? ›

How do you identify dollar bills worth up to $150,000? There are three things to look for: The series date located near the photograph of George Washington must read “Series 2013″ The bill must have a “B” Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number.

During that time, most goods and services were less than a dollar, making paper currency impractical to use. As need and use declined over the years, the Federal Reserve stopped printing $2 bills in 1966.

Although $2 bills are rare to find, if you own one, there's a chance it has a high value. Based on specific factors, some versions of the currency may be worth up to $5,000, per the US Currency Price Guide. FOX 13 Tampa reported that these bills were discontinued by 1966 but brought back 10 years later.

The auction site U.S. Currency Auctions estimates that uncirculated $2 bills from nearly every year up to 1917 are worth at least $1,000. If you've got a $2 bill with a red seal, it can sell for $3 to $2,500.

According to U.S. Currency Auctions, uncirculated $2 bills with red or brown seals can fetch thousands. 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.

From 1995, according to the site, a set of 12 notes in their original packaging are worth $500 or more. You can find the value of your $2 bill by visiting their U.S. currency price guide online at uscurrencyauctions.com.

Generally speaking, a $2 bill is typically worth $2 if it was produced between 1976 and 2013. Even an uncirculated $2 bill won't be worth more than face value if it was printed after 1976.