Any $2 bill dating back to 1976 that has been in circulation – and any uncirculated versions since 2003 – are worth only their face value, USCA says. Uncirculated bills between 1976 and 2003 range in estimated value from $2.25 to as much as $500.
Age - Older 2-dollar bills are more valuable than newer ones, as a general rule. Serial number - 2-dollar bills feature different serial numbers, some of which are more valuable. Misprints - Certain misprints, such as seals that are doubled or not placed properly, are very rare but are valuable.
Most large-size $2 bills issued from 1862 through 1918, are highly collectible and are worth at least $100 in well-circulated condition. Uncirculated large-size notes are worth at least $500 and can go up to $10,000 or more.
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.
Contrary to popular belief, the 1976 $2 bill value is low. In circulated condition, your 1976 2-dollar note is worth its face value. In other words, you'd get only two dollars if you wanted to sell your $2 bill. In an uncirculated condition, you could sell your bill for at least $15.
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.
The Huffington Post denies the controversial $20,000 valuation of all 2$ bills after this remarkable appraisal at a Toronto auction house. Only the 1986-series bill with an AUH-prefix on the seven-digit serial number below the bill's pic is worth the whopping 20 grand.
Australian $2 notes were issued from 1966 right up until they were replaced by Australian 2 dollar coins in 1988. Some Australian 2 dollar notes can be particularly valuable with certain serial numbers or if they are in mint condition. Values can reach up to $5,000 for the rarest old Australian two dollar bill.
What is this? While circulated $2 bills from 1963 are not worth much over their face value, uncirculated notes can be valued around $20 and star serial notes between $12 to $40. Some rare mint condition specimens can even be worth around $1,200.
If you have a $2 bill with a red seal that was printed in 1890 and uncirculated, it is now worth $4,500. Other $2 bills with a red seal can fetch between $300 and $2,500, while ones with brown or blue seals can fetch hundreds of dollars. The $2 bill is not rare, but it is uncommon.
According to the USCA website, any $2 bill with a red seal printed between 1862 and and 1896 is worth big bucks. The top payout is $4,500, and that's if the bill was printed in 1890 and uncirculated. Other $2 bills with the red seal range in worth from $300 to $2,500.
Currently, collectors are vying for higher denomination notes. According to Johnson, that includes “$500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 Federal Reserve notes [that] were printed from 1928 into the 1940s are bringing record prices.”
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.
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. A “star” suffix is used to identify notes that serve as replacements during the production process.
Most of these bills in circulated condition will only be worth their face value of $2. The standard bills that are in uncirculated condition can sell for a premium. Star notes will also sell for a premium. The 1995 series two dollar bills are worth around $5 each in uncirculated condition with an MS 63 grade.
"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. This caused many of the bills to be taken out of circulation as mutilated currency."
The worth of the 1953 $2 Dollar Bill largely depends on the series and the condition of the notes. But in general, a circulated 2-dollar bill in average condition is estimated to be around $2.50. Circulated bills in an excellent state may even sell for up to $9.
Red seal currencies are known as Legal Tender or United States Notes and have their roots in the Civil War. It was a method by which the government could raise funds without having to redeem these notes for gold or silver. It essentially was a loan to the United States Government.
Some one dollar notes are very valuable if they have the right serial numbers or if they're in mint condition. The rarest Australian dollar note can sell for up to $7,500. Although Australians use one dollar coins today, 1 dollar notes are still incredibly popular with collectors decades after they were replaced.
A serial number with all of the same numbers isn't the only kind to watch out for, you should also keep an eye out for ones with really low numbers, like 00000002, ones with really high numbers, ones with repeating number patterns like 12312312, ones that only use the same two numbers like 19919119, and flippers - ones ...
If you see a “solid” serial number on your note — such as 55555555 — you can expect to get as much as $500 from collectors. Even more valuable are binary bills in which the serial numbers only have two numbers, such as 29299299. Some of these notes sell for more than $800 on eBay.
Generally speaking, you can find many vintage $20 bills selling for a few hundred dollars. But some very rare bills, such as an 1861 demand note, have commanded prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Collecting old $20 bills can be a fun hobby and potentially profitable venture.