You’re standing at a cash register, and the person in front of you pulls out a crisp, slightly awkward-looking green note. It’s got Thomas Jefferson’s face on it. The cashier pauses. They squint. Maybe they even call a manager over because they think it’s play money or a clever forgery. It’s a scene that plays out in local shops across America every single day. People constantly ask, do they still make 2 bills, or did these things go the way of the dodo and the rotary phone?
The short answer? Yes. Absolutely.
They are still being printed, they are legal tender, and no, they aren’t worth $5,000 just because you found one in a birthday card from your grandma. Well, usually. There is a lot of weirdness surrounding the "Deuce," as collectors call it. It’s the red-headed stepchild of the U.S. Treasury, largely because we, the public, are terrible at actually using it. We treat it like a souvenir rather than money. That creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where the government doesn't need to print many of them because the ones already out there are sitting in top dresser drawers instead of circulating through vending machines.
Why the Public Thinks the $2 Bill is Dead
The confusion isn't random. There’s a history here. The United States government actually stopped production of the $2 bill back in 1966. For a full decade, if you wanted one, you had to find an old one. It felt like a discontinued product. When they brought it back in 1976 to celebrate the Bicentennial, they changed the back design from Jefferson’s home, Monticello, to a depiction of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
People went nuts. They thought these 1976 versions were "limited edition" or special commemorative items. They hoarded them. Millions of people rushed to the post office to get them stamped with a cancellation date of April 13, 1976, thinking they’d be worth a fortune one day. Spoiler alert: they aren't. Because everyone saved them, they stayed in "uncirculated" condition, making them incredibly common in the collector world today.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) doesn't print $2 bills every single year like they do with $1s or $100s. They print them based on demand. If the Federal Reserve has enough in their vaults to meet the needs of banks, they don't order new ones. This "on-demand" schedule is exactly why the question "do they still make 2 bills" keeps popping up. In some years, the print total is zero. In others, like 2013 or 2017, they might churn out tens of millions of them.
Breaking Down the Print Numbers
Let’s get into the weeds of the numbers for a second. According to the Federal Reserve's official currency orders, the 2024 fiscal year budget included an order for between 32 million and 160 million $2 bills. Compare that to the $1 bill, where they often print over 2 billion in a single year.
It's a rounding error in the grand scheme of the U.S. economy.
When you see a note with a "Series 2017A" or "Series 2013" stamp, that doesn't necessarily mean it was printed in that specific year. The series date on a bill refers to when the Secretary of the Treasury or the Treasurer of the United States changed, or when there was a significant design update. A "2017A" bill could have physically rolled off the presses in 2019 or 2020.
The Superstition Factor
Money is emotional. It's weird. For a long time, the $2 bill was considered bad luck. Some folks thought it was associated with gambling—specifically $2 horse race bets—or even "voter fraud" back in the day when a $2 bribe was allegedly the going rate for a vote.
There were even stories of people tearing the corners off $2 bills to "de-curse" them. If you ever find an old bill with the corners missing, that’s why. It wasn’t a manufacturing defect; it was a superstitious person trying to avoid a string of bad luck.
Because of these weird cultural vibes, the bill never gained the "daily driver" status of the $5 or the $20. Cashiers don't have a slot for it in the register. Most till drawers have four spots: $1, $5, $10, and $20. The $2 bill usually ends up tucked under the plastic tray with the checks and the big $100 bills. Out of sight, out of mind.
Is Your $2 Bill Actually Worth More Than Two Dollars?
Honestly? Probably not.
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If you walk into a bank and ask for $2 bills, they will give them to you at face value. If you spend it at Taco Bell, it’s worth two bucks. However, there are exceptions that get collectors really sweaty.
- Star Notes: If there is a small star at the end of the serial number, it means the bill was a replacement for a sheet that was damaged during printing. These are rarer.
- Low Serial Numbers: If your bill is something like 00000005, you’ve hit a small jackpot.
- Red Seals: Bills printed before 1966 often had a red Treasury seal instead of the modern green one. These are "United States Notes" rather than "Federal Reserve Notes." A crisp red seal can be worth $10 to $20, sometimes more depending on the year.
- Large Size Notes: Before 1928, U.S. currency was physically larger (often called "horse blankets"). A large-size $2 bill is a genuine antique and can be worth hundreds.
But that 1976 bill you found in the attic? It’s almost certainly worth exactly $2.
How to Get Them (And Why You Should)
If you want to help keep the $2 bill alive, the process is simple: ask for them. Most local bank branches keep a few straps of $2 bills in the vault. You don't need a special permit. You don't need to be a collector. Just walk up to the teller and ask if they have any "Twos."
Using them is actually a great way to support small businesses or tip service workers. It’s memorable. It starts a conversation. Servers in restaurants often love them because they are easy to keep track of, and it makes the tip stand out.
Some niche communities have adopted the $2 bill as a sort of "secret handshake." For instance, fans of the Clemson University Tigers have a long-standing tradition of spending $2 bills stamped with a tiger paw when they travel to away games to show the economic impact of their fan base.
The Future of the Deuce
Will they stop making them? Eventually, maybe. The U.S. is slowly—very slowly—moving toward a digital-first economy. But as long as there is a niche demand and the Federal Reserve sees a reason to keep the denomination in the mix, the BEP will keep the plates ready.
The $2 bill isn't a ghost. It’s just shy.
It’s the only bill that features two U.S. Presidents on it (Jefferson on the front, and technically several others, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, in the painting on the back). It’s a piece of history that you can buy for the price of... well, two dollars.
Actionable Steps for Your $2 Bills
If you’ve got a stack of these notes or you’re thinking about starting a collection, here is what you should actually do:
- Check the Seal Color: If it’s green, it’s modern and likely worth face value. If it’s red or blue, put it in a protective sleeve immediately; it has collector value.
- Look for Errors: Check if the printing is centered. If the border is significantly wider on one side, or if the ink from the back is visible on the front, you have a "misprint" that collectors will pay a premium for.
- Spend the Common Ones: Don't hoard modern green-seal bills. Spending them is the only way to ensure the government continues to see "demand" and keeps the $2 bill in production.
- Visit the BEP: If you're ever in Washington, D.C. or Fort Worth, Texas, you can take a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and see them being made firsthand. It's the best way to dispel the myth that they are out of print.
- Talk to a Local Coin Shop: If you think you have something truly rare (like a bill from the 1800s), don't go to a pawn shop. Go to a dedicated numismatic dealer who can give you an honest appraisal based on the "Greysheet" (the industry standard pricing guide).
The next time someone asks you, "do they still make 2 bills," you can tell them with total confidence that they do—and maybe even hand them one to prove it.