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.

If the $2 bill was minted and printed before 1976, it will 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.

Large-sized notes. In March 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, different from the familiar portrait in use on the small-sized $10 bill since 1928.

Why two dollar bills are so rare. You'll probably be surprised to learn that although $2 bills are indeed rare, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing still produces these bills on a regular basis. According to CNN, in 2022 the Bureau printed over 200 million of these bills, and over 1 billion of them are in circulation.

The $2 bill, first printed in 1862, is hard to find due to its lack of use. There have been several editions of the $2 bill, with the most recent version designed in 1963, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The highest value for a $2 note is found on 1890 Treasury Note versions, with the circulated version worth between $550 and $2,500, or worth $4,500 or more if uncirculated. The collector value is the same for both versions of the 1890 bill, either with a brown seal, or a red one.

If you have bills and coins that are old, rare, unique or otherwise valuable, these are the best places to convert them into spendable cash.

• Heritage Auctions.
• eBay.
• Stack's Bowers Galleries.
• APMEX.
• Your Local Coin Dealer.

Fun Facts about the Two-Dollar Bill

• Nicknamed the “Tom” because they feature Thomas Jefferson's portrait on the face.
• Has been linked in the past to bribery, election rigging, gambling, prostitution, and bad luck in general.
• Used by Clemson University, Geneva Steel, and 2nd Amendment proponents.

But here's the thing, the $2 bill saved the government a bunch of money. “It's more cost-efficient to print twos instead of ones,” Bennardo says. “You can print half as many twos and get the same dollar amount.” Today, for example, it costs about 5 cents to make a dollar … and it costs the same amount to make a 2.

The highest value for a $2 note is found on 1890 Treasury Note versions, with the circulated version worth between $550 and $2,500, or worth $4,500 or more if uncirculated. The collector value is the same for both versions of the 1890 bill, either with a brown seal, or a red one.

Superstitious believers eventually deemed the bill denomination to carry bad luck. "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.

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. But more recent bills can still far exceed their initial value, with some reaching between $200 and $1,000.

There are two uncirculated $2 bills that have a value that can exceed $4,500, according to U.S. Currency Auctions. Both are treasury notes from 1890. One has a brown seal, while the other has a red seal.

Currency in Circulation: Value

Rarity and demand dictate the value of this special bill. They account for less than . 0001% of all currency in circulation, which makes them look - on paper - super rare, but that's not actually the case for all $2 bills. Circulated banknotes have been used by the general public and often appear worn and dirty.

The new design maintained the portrait of Jefferson on the face but the back was changed from Monticello to a vignette of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The most recent printing of the $2 note has the Series 2017A designation.