You probably have one. Tucked into a birthday card from a grandparent or hidden in the "emergency" section of your wallet. A crisp, slightly weird-looking $2 bill. If you look closely at the seal and see the year 2013, you might be wondering if you’re sitting on a small fortune.
The short answer? Honestly, it’s probably just worth $2.
But don't toss it back into the tip jar just yet. While most of these notes are as common as a Tuesday afternoon, a few specific versions of the 2013 series are actually making collectors lose their minds. We are talking about printing errors, "star" replacements, and serial numbers so weird they look like a glitch in the Matrix.
The Reality Check: Is Your 2013 $2 Bill Actually Rare?
Most people think $2 bills are rare because they rarely see them in the wild. That’s a myth. Banks actually have stacks of them. They just don't circulate well because people tend to hoard them like lucky charms.
In 2013, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) didn't even include $2 notes in their initial fiscal year order. Why? Because the Fed already had enough 2012 stock to last. When they finally did get around to printing the Series 2013, they produced millions upon millions.
If your bill has been folded, spent, or looks like it’s lived in a pocket for a decade, it is worth exactly two bucks. Collectors want "Crisp Uncirculated" (CU) notes. Basically, if it doesn't look like it just came off the press, the value drops instantly.
Why Some 2013 $2 Bills Sell for $15 to $50
So, when does the price jump? It usually comes down to the Star Note or the Serial Number.
The Magic of the Star Note
Look at the serial number. Does it end with a little star symbol ($\star$) instead of a letter?
If yes, you’ve found a replacement note. When the BEP messes up a sheet of money, they can't just reprint the same serial number. They swap it for a star note to keep the count right.
A 2013 $2 star note in perfect condition can easily fetch $10 to $20 on eBay. Some specifically rare runs, like those from the New York (B) or San Francisco (L) districts, can go higher if the "print run" was small.
Fancy Serial Numbers
This is where the real money is. Collectors hunt for "Fancy Serials." If you have one of these, your $2 bill isn't $2 anymore:
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- Low Serials: Numbers like 00000001 or anything under 1000. These can hit $100+.
- Ladders: 12345678 or 87654321. Extremely rare.
- Radars: Numbers that read the same forward and backward (like 12344321).
- Binaries: Only two numbers used throughout, like 22002202.
The "Dark Hair" Jefferson Mystery
There is this super nerdy detail about the 2013 series that most people miss. Collector Eduardo A. Náter actually noticed that on some 2013 bills, Thomas Jefferson looks... different.
On earlier prints, his hair is lighter and the lines are finer. On later 2013 prints (and the 2017A series), the portrait is significantly darker. The hair, neck, and eyes have more contrast. This happened because the BEP switched from older COPE printing equipment to the newer LEPE (Large Examining and Printing Equipment) system.
While this doesn't necessarily make the bill worth $1,000, "variety" collectors love this stuff. If you have both a light-haired and dark-haired 2013 bill in uncirculated condition, the pair is a cool piece of history.
What About Those "2013B" Duplicate Star Notes?
Here is the big one. If you have a 2013 $2 bill from the New York Federal Reserve (indicated by a "B" and the number 2), pay attention. There was a massive screw-up where the BEP accidentally printed duplicate serial numbers for star notes.
Basically, there are two different bills out there with the exact same serial number. If a collector finds a "matching pair"—the two identical twins—the value can skyrocket into the thousands. There are even websites dedicated specifically to "Project 2013B" where people log their serial numbers to find their bill's twin.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re holding a 2013 $2 bill right now, do these three things:
- Check for the Star: If there is a $\star$ at the end of the serial number, put that bill in a plastic sleeve immediately. Even a circulated star note is worth a small premium.
- Look for the "B": If the bill is Series 2013 and has a "B" for New York, check the serial number against the Project 2013B database online. You might have one half of a "twin" pair.
- Gauge the Condition: Is it "crisp"? If you can fold it and it doesn't "snap" back, or if the corners are rounded, it’s a spender. If it’s perfectly flat and sharp, keep it.
You aren't likely to retire off a 2013 $2 bill, but finding a $20 bill disguised as a $2 note? That’s a pretty good Friday.
If you're serious about the value, head over to eBay and filter by "Sold Items" for "2013 $2 star note" to see what people are actually paying today. Don't look at the "Listings"—people ask for crazy prices that nobody pays. Look at the completed sales to see the real market value.