Your $2 Bill Could Be Worth Thousands of Dollars

When I ran a cash register, the last thing I wanted to see was a $2 bill. Any "twos" that came in were deposited quickly in the store safe or under the drawer, where they could not be confused with a $20 bill.

On a busy day, it is easy to mistake a "two" for a "twenty," which could result in a short cash drawer at the end of the day.

The same is true with one-dollar coins, which can be confused with half-dollar coins.

Currency collectors enjoy spotting a $2 bill about as much as an "Indian head nickle" or a silver half-dollar, and with good reason.

Heather Morrison writes for MassLive.com that your $2 bills might be worth much more than that. In fact, Morrison says, "Depending upon how and when it was printed, some collectors are offering up to $4,500 for the unique bills."

The U.S. Currency Auctions' Currency Price Guide backs up Morrison's reporting.

According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, "The first $2 notes (called United States Notes or "Legal Tenders") were issued by the federal government in 1862 and featured a portrait of the first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, (1789-1795)."

The Bureau, which offers a history of the $2 bill, says, "The first use of Thomas Jefferson's portrait on $2 notes was on Series 1869 United States Notes. The same portrait has been used for all series of $2 United States notes as well as for all $2 Federal Reserve Notes."

A new series was introduced in 1976 as America celebrated its Bicentennial.