Why are modern $2 bills worth only face value?
Each of these series was printed in the tens or hundreds of millions and they're still turning up at bank counters. Collectors can get crisp ones whenever they like. A note has to have something unusual about it to be worth more than two dollars and the series year alone almost never does it.
That isn't a knock on your bill. It just means the value is in the details: the serial number, a star, the district on a short run or a printing mistake.
Modern $2 Federal Reserve notes: signatures and printing notes
| Series | Treasurer | Secretary of the Treasury | Printing notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Mary Ellen Withrow | Robert E. Rubin | Atlanta district only for circulation; first $2 printed in Fort Worth |
| 2003 | Rosario Marin | John W. Snow | Minneapolis district only for circulation |
| 2003A | Anna Escobedo Cabral | John W. Snow | All 12 districts |
| 2009 | Rosie Rios | Timothy F. Geithner | Star notes printed and issued separately |
| 2013 | Rosie Rios | Jacob J. Lew | First printed for Atlanta |
| 2017A | Jovita Carranza | Steven T. Mnuchin | First issued to banks in December 2019 |
How do I read a modern $2?
The series year is printed near the right-hand signature, for example Series 2013. Unlike older notes, a new Secretary of the Treasury now brings a new year rather than a letter. A letter after the year, as in 2003A or 2017A, signals a smaller change, such as a new Treasurer.
The black seal on the left names the Federal Reserve Bank and its letter starts the serial number. A is Boston, B New York, C Philadelphia, D Cleveland, E Richmond, F Atlanta, G Chicago, H St. Louis, I Minneapolis, J Kansas City, K Dallas and L San Francisco. Near the lower right of the face you'll see a small plate number with FW in front of it. That shows the note came from the BEP's Fort Worth plant, where every $2 has been printed since Series 1995.
Is my Series 1995 $2 special?
Usually not, but it's the most interesting of the modern group. The circulating Series 1995 notes were all printed for the Atlanta district, so they carry an F seal. In late 1999 the BEP also printed small batches of Series 1995 star notes for all twelve districts to mark the millennium. A 1995 star from a district other than Atlanta came from that program, not from your local bank and specialists collect them.
What about 2003 and 2003A?
The Series 2003 $2 went into circulation for the Minneapolis district only, so a circulated 2003 should have an I seal. The BEP also printed 2003 notes for Boston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis and Dallas in uncut sheets sold to collectors. A single 2003 note with a district letter other than I was almost certainly cut from one of those sheets. It is a small premium item at most and more if it's still in the sheet.
The 2003A was printed for all twelve districts and is the one you're most likely to see. It's a face value note unless the serial or a star says otherwise.
Are 2009, 2013 and 2017A $2 bills collectible?
Only the special ones. The 2009 is notable for its star notes, which the BEP printed in a single batch in 2012 and banks received later that year. The 2013 began with Atlanta printings and spread from there. The 2017A carries the signatures of Jovita Carranza and Steven Mnuchin and first reached banks in December 2019. Regular notes from all three series spend at face value.
How do I check a star note or fancy serial?
On these notes a star at the end of the serial number marks a replacement note. Modern stars are printed in runs that range from small to quite large, so a star isn't automatically valuable. Collectors look up the run a star came from and stars from small runs carry a real premium.
Fancy serials matter more than the series here. Look for:
- Low numbers such as 00000001 to 00000100
- Solid serials where all eight digits are the same
- Ladders such as 12345678 or 87654321
- Radars such as 27155172 that read the same both ways
- Repeaters such as 36363636 or 12341234
- Binary serials made only of two digits, such as 10011010
What should I do with mine?
Spend ordinary notes, or keep a few as gifts. They're handy for tipping and they're a nice thing to hand a kid. Save stars, fancy serials and any 2003 note with a district other than Minneapolis and keep them flat. If you received a sealed pack or strap from the bank, flip through every note before breaking it up. That's how most fancy serials are found.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 2003 $2 bill worth anything?
A circulated 2003 note from Minneapolis is worth face value. Notes from other districts came from uncut sheets and may bring a small premium.
Do they still make $2 bills?
Yes. New series have been printed regularly since 1995, most recently Series 2017A in this group.
Is a 1995 $2 bill rare?
No. The circulating 1995 notes were printed for Atlanta in large numbers. Star notes from districts other than Atlanta are the collectible exception.
What does FW mean on a $2 bill?
It means the note was printed at the Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth, Texas, where all $2 notes have been made since Series 1995.
Sources: United States two-dollar bill (Wikipedia) · Series (United States currency) (Wikipedia) · Bureau of Engraving and Printing frequently asked questions (archived)