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The $2 bill has been a part of American currency since 1776, when it was issued by the Continental Congress, and it had been issued periodically ever since, whenever the supply in the system runs out. The bills with series from 1928, 1953, and 1963 are relatively common. These bills have a red seal on the front and Monticello on the back. (Click on the bills to enlarge.)

The modern U.S. two dollar bills were introduced in 1976, for the U.S. bicentennial celebration. In 1996, it was announced that the U.S. treasury had ordered $102 million worth of the series 1995 U.S.$2 bills even though banks seemed to have an ample supply of the 1976 series notes. The most recent printing of United States' two dollar bills is the series from 2003. The 1976, 1995, and 2003 series have a black seal on the front and a painting of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence on the back.

Interesting comments:

I receive many interesting comments when I pay with $2 bills. Some of the comments that I have received are listed below. Vist again to read new ones. I'll add them to the head of the list.

• I haven't got one of these in like ... ever!
• Are they making these again?
• Do they still make these?
• Is this real?
• Wow, I haven't seen one of these in a long time.
• Do you do this to confuse people like me?
• I have to ask the manager if I can accept these.
• Do you have any more? I'd like to get some from you.
• This is not real money! I've never seen one of these before.
• I don't have a space for this in my register.
• I've never seen one of these.
• Are you sure you want to pay with these?
• I'm taking this home!

Also, people in line behind me have asked if they can get 5 or 10 of these bills from me so I always carry extra to accommodate these requests.

Why should we all use the $2 bill?

It is pointed out in Economic Reviews by Suzanne J. Stone (Mar/Apr 1976 Vol. 62 No. 2), that by replacing about half the "ones" with an equivalent dollar volume of "twos", thus decreasing the number of bills in circulation, the Federal Government would save about $5 million (in 1976 dollars) in printing, handling, storage, and shipping costs.

Misc stuff

• There are some urban legends claiming that $2 bills are considered unlucky.
  
• Another superstition is that a $2 bill can be lucky.
• I get my supply of $2 bills from my local bank. Banks usually have a minimum order of 100 bills ($200 worth).

Most $2 bills are not collectibles

Most $2 bills are "uncommon enough to often be hard to find, but not uncommon enough to be really valuable". However, there are exceptions:

• Bills that are Series 1963A or older (these are United States Notes, and will have a red Treasury seal and red serial numbers, as opposed to the green Federal Reserve Notes printed today, and will have no seal from an issuing Federal Reserve Bank)
• Bills with an interesting pattern in the serial number
• Bills with a star in the serial number (Star note)
• If the bill were to have some sort of an error, such as an ink spill, missing the third printing (which includes the serial number and the seal), or improper cutting.

The last three are true for most bills.

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Here are links to other sites with information about $2 bills.

• The famed Taco Bell story
• U.S. Treasury - FAQs: Denominations of Currency
• Reb's $2 bill web page from many countries
• Dollar Bills site promoting $2 bill usage.
• $2 Note Fact Sheet
• Definition of U.S. two dollar bill (history)
• United States two-dollar bill (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

From 1971 to 1978, the U.S. Mint issued dollar coins with the obverse depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower and the reverse the insignia of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The coins were never very popular, primarily due to their large size and weight which made them inconvenient to carry and the fact that very few vending machines were designed to accept them.

For the short duration of 1979 to 1981 and 1999 the Mint produced Susan B. Anthony Dollars. The coins were in demand to be used as change in vending machines, most often in transit systems and post offices, however they were not accepted by the public because of the strong physical resemblance to the quarter.

The Sacagawea dollar was released to the public in 2000 and 2001. These coins were made to replace the unpopular Susan B. Anthony dollar coins. Sacagawea dollars were given a smooth outside edge (similar to the Nickel) and distinctive gold color which made it the only gold-colored coin in the United States that was currently circulating. The Sacagawea dollar is still being minted on a small scale for collectors. The 2000 and 2001 coins are still used in vending machines but the chief stumbling-block to the success of the 'golden dollar' is the continued presence of the $1 bill. The lesson demonstrated by our Susan B. Anthony experience, and learned by all countries that have introduced a high-denomination coin since 1979, is that the equivalent note must be removed from circulation. The only country not to learn that lesson is the United States.

Starting in 2007, a program the U.S. Mint calls The Presidential $1 Coin Program will issue coins featuring each of four Presidents per year on the obverse, issuing one for three months before moving on to the next President in chronological order by term in office. The reverse of the coins will bear the Statue of Liberty, the inscription '$1' and the inscription 'United States of America'. In addition, inscribed along the edge of the coin will be the year of minting or issuance of the coin, and also the legends E Pluribus Unum and 'In God We Trust.' The legend 'Liberty' will be absent from the coin altogether, since the decision was made that the image of the Statue of Liberty on the reverse of the coin was sufficient to convey the message of liberty. The text of the act does not specify the color of the coins, but per the U.S. Mint "the specifications will be identical to those used for the current Golden dollar". Once again Congress did not remove the $1 bill from circulation. Could this be "strike three"?

Though the dollar coin has performed poorly in recent years, supporters with deep pockets have kept the coin alive. Many industries would stand to benefit if the golden dollar were incorporated into mainstream circulation, and the U.S. government would save an estimated $500 million a year from the cost efficiency of coin over paper. At the same time, powerful opposing interests prefer that the dollar bill maintain its monopoly, creating a behind-the-scenes coin vs. bill political showdown.

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Thanking you,
Willy

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Last updated:   November 25, 2009

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