You’re standing at a cash register, and the person in front of you pulls out a crisp, green note featuring Thomas Jefferson’s face. The cashier freezes. They hold it up to the light, squinting like they’ve just been handed a pirate’s map or a three-dollar bill. It’s a classic scene. Most people genuinely wonder, do they make two dollar bills anymore, or are they just relics sitting in grandpas' sock drawers?
They're real.
They are still being printed. Honestly, the federal government never actually stopped for good, even though it feels like they did. If you go to a bank today and ask for fifty of them, there’s a decent chance the teller will just reach into a drawer and hand them over. They aren't "discontinued" in the way a 1990s snack food is. They are legal tender, active in the system, and currently rolling off the presses at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).
The Mystery of the "Missing" Deuce
Why does everyone think they’re fake? It’s a weird psychological loop. Because people think they are rare, they hoard them. Because everyone hoards them, you never see them in circulation. Because you never see them in circulation, you think they're rare. See the problem?
The United States Treasury produces billions of $1 and $100 notes every year. By comparison, the $2 bill production is tiny. But "tiny" in government terms still means millions of notes. In 2022, the BEP saw a massive order for $2 bills—we're talking over 200 million of them. They do this because the Federal Reserve banks report on how much "fit" currency they have in their vaults. When the stock gets low, they put in an order. It’s purely supply and demand, though the demand usually comes from collectors and quirky gift-givers rather than daily commerce.
Back in 1966, the government actually did stop making them. They were the "red seal" United States Notes back then. People hated them. They were considered bad luck in horse racing and gambling. Some folks even thought "deuce" was a nickname for the devil. So, the Treasury pulled the plug. But for the Bicentennial in 1976, they brought it back as a Federal Reserve Note with that famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back. That’s the version you see today.
Wait, Are They Worth More Than Two Dollars?
Here is the part where I have to break some hearts. Your average $2 bill is worth exactly two dollars.
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If you found a stack of them from 2013 or 2017 in your attic, don’t quit your day job. You can walk into a McDonald’s and buy a soda with one, and you’ll get exactly $2.00 of credit. Most people see the 1976 date and assume it’s a colonial artifact. It isn't. They printed hundreds of millions of those for the Bicentennial.
However, there are exceptions. This is where numismatics—the fancy word for coin and bill collecting—gets interesting. If you have a $2 bill with a Red Seal or a Blue Seal, you’re looking at something from before 1966. Those can be worth $10, $20, or even hundreds depending on the condition. Then there are "Star Notes." Look at the serial number. If there is a little star at the end instead of a letter, it means that bill was a replacement for a sheet that got messed up during printing. Collectors love those.
Also, keep an eye out for "fancy serial numbers." We’re talking ladders (12345678), radars (numbers that read the same backward and forward), or low serial numbers like 00000005. Those are the real lottery tickets. But the bill you got in your birthday card from Great Aunt Martha? It’s probably just two bucks.
The Logistics: Why Your Bank Doesn't Have Them
If the government is still making them, why don't ATMs spit them out? It’s a hardware issue. Most ATM canisters are built for $20s, and recently $10s or $50s. Redesigning the internal mechanics of a nationwide fleet of ATMs to accommodate a bill that people barely use is a bad business move.
Retailers are another hurdle. Look at a standard cash drawer next time you’re at a grocery store. There are four or five slots. They are almost always filled with $20s, $10s, $5s, $1s, and then maybe checks or coupons in the last one. There is literally no physical "home" for the $2 bill in most modern registers. When a cashier gets one, they usually tuck it under the tray, hiding it from view, which further contributes to the myth that they don't exist.
Interestingly, some places love them. There are strip clubs in certain cities that give out $2 bills as change to encourage higher tipping. There are also specific "Two Dollar Bill" social movements where fans use them exclusively to prove to local businesses how much money "niche" groups are spending. But for the most part, the $2 bill is the lonely middle child of American currency.
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How to Get Your Hands on New Ones
So, you want to prove to your friends that do they make two dollar bills is a question with a resounding "yes." How do you get them?
Don't go to eBay. Please. People on eBay will sell you a "rare" $2 bill for $8 plus shipping. You are literally paying someone $10 for $2. It’s a scam for the uninformed.
Instead, just walk into a medium-to-large branch of a major bank like Chase, Bank of America, or a local credit union. Ask the teller. Most of the time, they have a few "used" ones in the drawer. If you want a whole brick of brand-new, uncirculated, sequential bills, you might have to call ahead. A "brick" is 1,000 bills ($2,000), but banks can usually order "straps" of 100 bills ($200) for you. It might take a week for their armored car delivery to bring them in, but they can get them.
The "Bad Luck" Superstition
History is weird. The $2 bill has a reputation for being cursed. In the early 20th century, it was frequently used for $2 bets at horse tracks or for buying votes in corrupt elections (voters were supposedly paid two dollars for their "loyalty"). Because of the connection to gambling and bribery, "polite society" stayed away from them.
There was even a tradition of tearing off a corner of the bill to "flick away" the bad luck. If you ever find a $2 bill with a missing corner, that’s why. Of course, tearing the bill actually makes it "mutilated currency," which makes it harder for banks to process, effectively creating the very "bad luck" the person was trying to avoid.
Technical Details: The 2026 Context
As we move further into a cashless society, the future of the $2 bill is actually more secure than the $1 bill. Why? Because the $1 bill is a workhorse. It wears out fast. The $2 bill stays in mint condition for years because it doesn't move through hands as often. It costs the government about 6 cents to print a $2 bill, which is nearly identical to the cost of a $1 bill. By using $2 bills, the government actually saves money on printing costs over the long term because they don't have to replace them as frequently.
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The Bureau of Engraving and Printing keeps its production schedules public. If you look at the 2024-2026 print orders, the $2 note remains a staple. It isn't going anywhere. Thomas Jefferson is safely tucked onto that obverse side, and the presentation of the Declaration of Independence—which, by the way, features 42 of the 56 signers—remains one of the most intricate designs in world currency.
Practical Tips for Two-Dollar Enthusiasts
If you decide to start carrying these, be prepared for a few things. First, you will have to explain they are real at least once a week. Second, self-checkout machines are a gamble. Some newer ones will take them, but many older machines will spit them back out because they aren't programmed to recognize the magnetic ink pattern of a $2 note.
If you are looking for investment-grade bills, focus on:
- 1928 Series: These are the first small-size $2 bills and often have red seals.
- 1953 Series: Another popular red seal year.
- Errors: Look for "ink smears" or "miscut" edges where you can see part of another bill. These are worth significantly more than face value.
- Consecutive Runs: A pack of 100 brand-new, sequential bills from a year with low production numbers can gain value over several decades.
The Bottom Line on Production
The Treasury hasn't quit. They haven't given up. They just don't promote them. The $2 bill exists in a weird limbo between a collector's item and a functional tool. It’s the only bill that feels like a gift even when you’re just paying for a sandwich.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your local bank: Instead of searching online, visit a bank teller and ask for $20 worth of twos. It’s the easiest way to see for yourself that they are still in circulation.
- Verify the seal: If you find one, look at the color of the treasury seal. Green means it’s a modern Federal Reserve Note. Red or Blue means you should probably put it in a protective sleeve and look up its specific value.
- Use them for tipping: They are widely known as the best "tipping" currency because they stand out. Service staff often remember the person who tipped with "Toms."
- Check the BEP website: If you want to see exactly how many were printed this year, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing publishes "Annual Production Reports" that break down every denomination by serial number range.
Stop treating them like museum pieces. They are meant to be spent. If more people spent them, the "mystery" would finally vanish, and the cashier at the local gas station would stop giving you that suspicious look.
For more information on currency production, visit the official U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing or the Federal Reserve's currency education site.