Is Your 2013 Two Dollar Bill Worth More Than Face Value? What the Experts Say

You’re staring at a crisp green note with Thomas Jefferson’s face on it. It feels different than a five or a twenty. It feels rare. Maybe you found it in a birthday card from your grandma or got it as "lucky" change at a local deli. Naturally, you want to know if you've struck gold. Specifically, you're asking: how much is a 2013 two dollar bill worth in today's market?

Most people think these are ancient artifacts. They aren't.

If you take that 2013 $2 bill to the grocery store, it is worth exactly two dollars. Bread and milk don't care about the date. However, the world of numismatics—the fancy word for coin and bill collecting—is a bit more complicated than that. Most 2013 series bills are common. They were printed by the millions. But, and this is a big "but," there are specific versions of this exact year that could pay for your next dinner, or even your next car payment.

The Reality Check on the 2013 Series

Let's be blunt. For 99% of you reading this, your bill is worth $2.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) doesn't print these every year. They print them in "series" when the Federal Reserve decides they need more. The Series 2013 bills were actually printed between 2014 and 2016. Because people tend to hoard $2 bills thinking they’re rare, they don't circulate much. Since they don't circulate, they don't get worn out. Because they don't get worn out, the government doesn't need to print new ones very often.

It’s a weird cycle.

According to the U.S. Currency Education Program, there are billions of $2 bills in circulation. In 2013 alone, the Atlanta and St. Louis Federal Reserve banks ordered massive quantities. If your bill has a standard serial number and looks like it's been living in a sweaty pocket for three years, it's just a spending note. But don't toss it back into the wild just yet.

When a 2013 Two Dollar Bill is Actually Valuable

Condition is king. If your bill is "Uncirculated"—meaning it looks like it just rolled off the press with sharp corners and zero creases—it might fetch $4 to $6 to the right collector. That’s a 100% to 200% profit. Not bad for a piece of paper.

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But the real money? That’s in the "Star Notes."

Look at the serial number. If there is a little star symbol ($\star$) at the end of the string of numbers, you've found a replacement note. When the BEP messes up a sheet of money during printing, they can’t just print the same serial number again. They swap in a star note to keep the count accurate.

Why Star Notes Matter

Collectors track these like hawks. For the 2013 series, star notes from certain districts are harder to find. For example, a 2013 $2 star note from the San Francisco district (represented by the letter L) might be rarer than one from Atlanta (F).

In "Gem Uncirculated" condition, a 2013 star note can easily sell for $15 to $25 on platforms like eBay or at heritage auctions.

The "Fancy" Serial Number Rabbit Hole

Serial numbers are the "DNA" of your bill. Most are boring. Some are mathematical miracles. If you want to know how much is a 2013 two dollar bill worth, stop looking at Jefferson and start looking at those green numbers.

1. Low Serial Numbers: If your bill starts with a bunch of zeros (like 00000432), people will pay a premium. Anything under 100 is a "holy grail" find.
2. Radars: These read the same forward and backward (12344321).
3. Repeaters: Patterns like 45454545.
4. Solid Serials: All the same digit (77777777). These are incredibly rare and can be worth thousands of dollars.
5. Ladders: Numbers in sequence (12345678).

I once saw a collector at a show in Chicago lose his mind over a "Binary" note—a serial number that only consisted of 1s and 0s. Even though it was a "modern" 2013 bill, the sheer coolness of the number pushed the price over $100. It's about the "wow" factor.

Misconceptions That Just Won't Die

You might have heard that $2 bills were discontinued. False.
You might have heard they are unlucky. Some gamblers think so, but your bank account disagrees.

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A common myth is that because the 2013 series was the first to feature the signatures of Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Treasurer Rosa Gumataotao Rios, it’s inherently valuable. It's a nice bit of trivia, but it doesn't add much to the price tag. Collectors care about rarity, not whose signature is on the bottom right, unless that signature is from the 1800s.

Grading: Is It Worth the Cost?

If you think you have a "Gem" bill, you might think about getting it graded by PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) or PCGS.

Wait.

Grading costs money. Often $20 to $50 per note plus shipping. If your 2013 $2 bill is only worth $10, you’re losing money by grading it. Only send it in if you have a high-tier star note or a truly insane serial number. A 2013 bill graded at "Superb Gem Unc 67" is a beautiful thing, but it’s a niche market.

How to Sell Your 2013 Two Dollar Bill

If you’ve decided your bill is special, don't just walk into a pawn shop. They’ll give you fifty cents on the dollar if you're lucky.

Try these instead:

• eBay: Check "Sold Listings" to see what people actually paid, not what people are asking. People ask for $10,000 for junk all the time. Ignore them.
• Local Coin Shops: Good for a quick appraisal, but they need to make a profit, so their offer will be lower than market value.
• Paper Money Forums: Sites like Paper Money Forum or even Reddit’s r/papermoney can give you a "gut check" on whether your bill is worth the effort.

Honestly, the $2 bill is the underdog of American currency. It’s the only bill that feels like a collectible even when it isn't.

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Actionable Steps for Your Find

Don't just stick it in a drawer and forget about it. If you think you have something beyond a standard spender, follow these steps to protect that value.

First, stop touching it with your bare hands. The oils on your skin can actually degrade the paper over time. Buy a PVC-free plastic currency sleeve. They cost about fifty cents. It keeps the bill flat and crisp.

Second, verify the serial number. Use a "Cool Serial Number" lookup tool online. These sites use algorithms to tell you how "rare" your number pattern is based on mathematical probability. If it ranks in the 98th percentile or higher, you've got something.

Third, check the Federal Reserve District. On a 2013 bill, there’s a circular seal on the left with a letter.

• A = Boston
• B = New York
• C = Philadelphia
• D = Cleveland
• E = Richmond
• F = Atlanta
• G = Chicago
• H = St. Louis
• I = Minneapolis
• J = Kansas City
• K = Dallas
• L = San Francisco

Check production tables from the BEP. If a specific district had a very low print run for the 2013 series, collectors will pay more to complete their "District Sets." For the 2013 $2 series, the St. Louis (H) and Philadelphia (C) runs were relatively standard, but keep an eye out for those star notes from any district.

Finally, if it’s just a normal bill, spend it. Seriously. Using $2 bills in public is a fun way to keep the denomination alive. It sparks conversations, confuses younger cashiers (sometimes), and keeps the "rarity" myth going for the next generation of collectors. Just make sure it isn't a star note before you hand it over for a pack of gum.