They say cash is king. That might be especially true when it comes to certain $2 bills.
The $2 bills are hard to come by these days, but don’t spend it before checking its print date and serial number because it could be worth way more than $2.
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. However, factors such as condition, printing method and location could change the bills’ value.
Even newer $2 bills are worth more than a pretty penny. Uncirculated $2 bills from 2003 are estimated at $900, and one even sold for $2,400 at an auction in 2022.
When did they start making $2 bills?
The first $2 notes were issued by the federal government in 1862, according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Who is on the $2 bill?
The face of the most recent $2 bill is Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. On the back, there is a portrait of the signing of that document.
When the $2 bill was first printed, it featured a photo of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of Treasury. Jefferson replaced Hamilton on the bill in 1869.
Is the $2 bill rare?
In 2022, the Federal Reserve reported that there were 1.5 billion $2 bills in circulation, a small fraction of the total $54.1 billion in currency circulated that year.
Some features of the $2 bill can make the bill more valuable and rare. Red and brown seals are less common than green seals. Printing errors, such as double prints or ink smudges, can make a bill more valuable as well.
What’s the most expensive $2 bill?
The most expensive $2 bill recorded was a rare 1928 bill that sold for $88,000. This bill was deemed valuable because of its pristine condition, looking as new as the day it was printed. It also had a unique and low serial number, which adds considerable value to the $2 bills. These factors combined made this bill a real gem.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Your $2 bill could be worth more than you think. Here’s how to check
