7 Signs Your $2 Bills Are Worth Way More Than $2

The United States started producing $2 bills in the 1860s, and even though they’re still being added into circulation today, they’re rarer than other bills.

They’re so rare that some are rumored to be worth thousands of dollars, making it a way some people earn extra money.

Here’s how to tell if that $2 bill you have burning a hole in your wallet is worth way more.

In 1862, the first $2 bill was printed with a portrait of Thomas Jefferson on one side. The other side prominently featured John Turmball’s Declaration of Independence painting.

Since then, it’s undergone six different redesigns. Here’s how to check to see if you have a rare one:

The $2 bill could have one of two Founding Fathers printed on it: Thomas Jefferson or Alexander Hamilton.

If you happen to have an old Hamilton bill, you have an incredibly rare find that U.S. Currency Auctions (USCA) claims could be worth around $4,500 or more, depending on the condition it is in and if it was uncirculated or not.

If you have a Jefferson $2 bill, check the reverse side of his face. If your money was printed before 1976, Jefferson’s Virginia estate is printed on the other side.

If that side displays a vignette of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it was probably printed after 1976. This fact could make that one bill worth up to $4,500.

Though they’re incredibly rare, there have been misprints on United States currency making those bills highly coveted by collectors.

Read the fine print closely to see if there are any grammatical errors, printing mistakes, or incorrect fonts. But look up any mistakes you may think you’ve identified — just because your bill looks off doesn’t mean it is worth any money.

A simple detail like the color of the seal could indicate that your $2 bill is worth more than face value.

If your bill has a blue, brown, or red seal and a date of 1862 through 1917, there is a chance it is worth over $1,000.

Note: The rare red seal is actually a misprint of what should have been blue.

$2 bills from different eras are worth different amounts of money. If you have a bill printed before 1976, it will most likely be worth more than face value, but maybe only by a few dollars.

Some uncirculated 1995 bills are valued at $500 by the USCA. A mint condition bill from 1862 could nab you anywhere from $500 to over $2,800.

If you have a $2 bill that was printed in the year 1976, check the serial number. If your bill is marked with a “1,” then it could be worth around $20,000.

Other bills with low serial numbers could be worth several thousand dollars as well.

The asterisk or star at the end of the serial number makes the bill more valuable.

A rare 1953 red star and stamp note is currently listed for $1,200 on eBay.

In 2020, there were an estimated 1.4 billion $2 bills in circulation, so these notes are far from extinct, but they are more rare than other bills. If you have one, that doesn’t mean it’s worth any more than the $2 printed on it. But it’s always worth looking into to see if you can make extra money on the side.