Valuable 2 Dollar Bills: Which $2 Notes Are Worth Money

Most $2 bills are worth exactly $2. The valuable ones fall into five groups: large-size notes from 1862 to 1918, red-seal United States Notes from 1928 to 1963A in nice condition, star notes from small print runs, notes with fancy serial numbers, and special Bureau of Engraving and Printing sets. The figures below come from Greysheet (September 25, 2026) for small-size notes and from US Currency Auctions (viewed September 25, 2026) for large-size and modern notes.

Every large-size $2 is worth far more than face. Circulated and uncirculated values from US Currency Auctions (viewed September 25, 2026):

• 1862 United States Note: $500–$1,000 circulated; $2,800+ uncirculated
• 1869 United States Note: $500–$1,200; $3,800+
• 1875 United States Note: $300–$650; $1,100+
• 1886 Silver Certificate: $350–$900; $1,300+ (red seal) or $1,400+ (brown seal)
• 1890 Treasury Note: $550–$2,500; $4,500+
• 1896 Silver Certificate (Educational): $300–$1,100; $2,100+
• 1899 Silver Certificate: $75–$225; $475+
• 1917 United States Note: $50–$100; $200+
• 1918 National Currency: $175–$375; $1,000+

PGS Gold & Coin rates the 1896 Educational higher, up to $15,000+ uncirculated, so get more than one quote.

Greysheet ranges (September 25, 2026), worn to top-grade uncirculated:

• 1928: $10–$500; star $100–$15,000
• 1928A: $18–$1,000; star $450–$65,000
• 1928B: $35–$4,000; star $7,500–$20,000
• 1928C: $7–$1,000; mule $200–$3,000; star $110–$2,800
• 1928D: $7–$400; star $35–$1,000
• 1928E: $7–$800; star $1,200–$19,000
• 1928F: $7–$550; star $35–$2,150
• 1928G: $7–$700; star $35–$3,250
• 1953 to 1953C: $5 worn to $160–$285; stars $12 to $185–$450
• 1963: $5–$145; star $8–$2,000
• 1963A: $5–$125; star $8–$200

Series pages: 1928, 1953, 1963.

• 1976: $2–$20 for regular notes and $5–$45 up to $85–$175 for stars depending on the bank; Kansas City and Richmond stars are the priciest (Greysheet, September 25, 2026). A note stamped at a post office on April 13, 1976, the first day of issue, is $13 per US Currency Auctions; Wikipedia says such notes typically trade at about twice face value, so condition and the stamp matter.
• 1995: printed only for the Atlanta district, 153,600,000 notes (Wikipedia). Regular notes $2–$20; stars $18–$120 (Greysheet). US Currency Auctions lists the BEP Premium Set of 12 star notes at $500+.
• 2003 and 2003A: $2.50 circulated, $3.25 uncirculated (US Currency Auctions); 2003 stars $18–$120 (Greysheet); the 2003 BEP Premium Set of 12 stars $900+ (US Currency Auctions).
• 2009 to 2021: $2 to $2.50 in any grade (US Currency Auctions).

Series pages: 1976, 1995, 2003, 2017.

Low numbers under 00000100, solids like 22222222, ladders like 12345678 and radars like 12344321 add value; PGS Gold & Coin says a modern $2 with a true solid serial can sell for $500 to $2,000 or more. Printing errors such as inverted overprints also raise value (Yahoo Finance). Wear, folds, ink stains or trimming that happened after the note left the printer are damage, not errors; a grading service such as PMG is the usual way to confirm a real error. Check your digits with the serial number checker.

• Seal colour: red means a United States Note from 1928–1963A; green means a Federal Reserve Note from 1976 on.
• Series year: printed on the face near Jefferson's portrait; 1976 or later in circulated condition is usually $2.
• Star: a star at the end of the serial number (or before it on older notes) marks a replacement note; check the run size.
• Serial pattern: look for low numbers, solids, ladders and radars.
• Condition: no folds at all is needed for uncirculated prices.
• Postmark: a 1976 note with an April 13, 1976 stamp is a collectible in its own right.

Research and drafting for this page were assisted by AI and checked line by line against the sources listed below. Prices are copied from the named price guide or dealer page with its date; where a figure could not be confirmed we say so rather than estimate. If you find an error, tell us and we will correct it.