You’ve probably found one tucked away in an old birthday card or buried at the bottom of a sock drawer. Maybe a grandparent handed it to you like it was a piece of the True Cross. We treat the $2 bill like a ghost. People honestly think they’re illegal, or out of print, or worth a small fortune. But here is the weird reality: they never actually stopped making them for good.
If you go to a bank right now—literally this second—you can probably ask the teller for a stack of "twos." Most of the time, they’ll just shrug and hand them over. Yet, the question of when did they stop making two dollar bills persists because there were long gaps where the presses stayed silent. It’s a story of government stubbornness, public superstition, and a currency that just won't die.
The Short Answer: They Didn’t
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) still produces $2 bills today. They don't print them every single year like they do with the $1 or the $20, but that’s only because the ones already in circulation don't get used. They don't wear out. If nobody spends them, the Treasury doesn’t need to replace them.
The most recent "printing" isn't ancient history. It happened recently. According to official BEP production reports, Series 2017A and Series 2013 bills are everywhere. We are talking about billions of notes in existence.
The 1966 Disappearance
The reason everyone asks when did they stop making two dollar bills is usually tied to 1966. That was a rough year for the deuce. Back then, the United States was transitioning away from "United States Notes" (red seals) toward "Federal Reserve Notes" (green seals).
The $2 bill was a red-seal staple. But it was also deeply unpopular. People hated them. Why? Because they were easily confused with $1 bills, leading to expensive mistakes at the cash register. Plus, there was an old-school superstition that $2 bills were bad luck. Gamblers hated them. Prostitutes supposedly used them. They were the "unlucky" note.
So, in 1966, the Treasury Department officially discontinued the $2 United States Note.
It vanished. For a decade, if you saw one, it was a relic. This 10-year gap is exactly why your parents or grandparents think they’re rare. For a significant chunk of modern American history, they actually were out of production.
The 1976 Resurrection
The $2 bill didn't stay dead. To celebrate the United States Bicentennial in 1976, the Treasury brought it back as a Federal Reserve Note. They swapped the old Monticello image on the back for a depiction of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It was a huge marketing push. People lined up at post offices to get them stamped with the date: April 13, 1976. But this "collectability" actually killed the bill's utility. Instead of spending the new $2 bills, everyone stuck them in scrapbooks.
👉 See also: What Is The Most You Can Get From Social Security: What Most People Get Wrong
Basically, the government tried to make it a workhorse, but the public treated it like a souvenir.
Why the Printing Presses Go Quiet
The BEP prints money based on demand from the Federal Reserve. If the Fed has a vault full of $2 bills that no one is asking for, they don't order more. This leads to "dry spells" that confuse collectors.
For instance, there were no $2 bills printed between 1976 and 1996. That's twenty years of silence. If you grew up in the 80s, you never saw a "new" one. Then they printed a bunch for Series 1995, then nothing again until Series 2003.
It's a feast or famine production cycle.
📖 Related: 500 Bitcoins Worth: Why This Specific Number Still Shakes the Market
Current statistics from the Federal Reserve show that $2 bills make up less than 3% of all paper currency in circulation. It sounds small, but when you realize there are over 1.4 billion of them floating around, "rare" starts to feel like the wrong word.
The Value Myth: Are They Worth More Than Two Dollars?
Honestly? Usually no.
If you have a $2 bill from 1976 or 2013, it is worth exactly two dollars. You can buy a cheap coffee with it. You can tip a bartender with it (they actually love it because it stands out).
However, there are exceptions. If you find a "Star Note"—look for a little star at the end of the serial number—it might be worth $5 to $50 depending on the condition. The real money is in the 19th-century notes. An 1896 "Educational Series" $2 bill in perfect condition can fetch thousands. But the green-seal ones in your wallet? Spend 'em.
🔗 Read more: Bank of America Branches Closing 2025: What Most People Get Wrong
The Practical Side of the Deuce
Waiters and valets often report getting better tips when they give $2 bills as change. It’s psychological. It feels special, so the customer remembers the service.
Some businesses, like the 2-Dollar Radio bookstore or specific strip clubs, have made the bill part of their brand identity. In some niche communities, carrying a $2 bill is a "secret handshake" of sorts.
But for the average person, the confusion remains. Many younger cashiers—who grew up in a world of debit cards and Apple Pay—might actually pause when you hand them one. Some have even called managers, thinking the money is counterfeit because they’ve never seen a bill with Thomas Jefferson on it. It’s a weirdly common occurrence.
What to Do With Your $2 Bills
If you’re holding onto a stack of these thinking you’re sitting on a gold mine, it might be time to temper expectations. Unless the bill has a red seal (pre-1966) or a very unusual serial number (like 00000001), its value is mostly sentimental.
Next Steps for Holders of $2 Bills:
- Check the Seal Color: If it’s red or blue, keep it. Those are older United States Notes or Silver Certificates and carry a premium.
- Look for "Star Notes": Check the serial number. If there is a star instead of a letter at the end, collectors will pay a bit more.
- Spend Them Naturally: The best way to keep the $2 bill alive is to use it. It reduces the need for the Treasury to print as many $1 bills, which actually saves the government money in the long run because $2 bills last longer in circulation.
- Visit a Local Bank: If you want "crisp" ones for gifts, just ask. Most branches have them in the vault, and they’re happy to get rid of them because they take up space.
The $2 bill isn't a relic of the past; it’s just a misunderstood member of the present. It hasn't been discontinued, it isn't "rare" in the legal sense, and it’s still being printed whenever the Federal Reserve feels the vault is getting a little low.