$2 bills, what do you do with them?

[marmalade]

My 84yr old Grandmother likes to give my family $2 bills in cards for certain holidays. I have probably around $100 in $2 bills, I want to just put them in the bank because they are just sitting in my house doing nothing, but I feel guilty getting rid of them.

What would you do with $100 worth of $2 bills?

 

[Lintasare]

You spend them. They are legal tender.

 

[cousinbb]

wow!!! 100 dollars worth eh? and it took me 5 years to get one $2dollar bill lol. You could trade them for two $1dollar bills if you know anyone who collects odd money like that.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Are any of them stamped? Have an "odd" color serial number? Old, original (1970's?) $2 can be worth WAAAAYYYY more than $2.

Newer $2 bills? Put them in your wallet and spend them. Watch the clerk go .



ETA: a quick Google search found:


It's important to know the bill's date.

Circulated current-issue $2 bills (dates 1976 and later, with green seals) are worth $2. If they are in crisp uncirculated condition the retail value could be double that.

Older U.S. Notes with red seals can be worth more. Some typical retail values are:

1928: $3-10 circulated / up to $50 uncirculated
1928A: $5-10 / 225
1928B: $20-85 / 700
1928C: $2-10 / $100
1928D: $2-8 / $30
1928E: $2-12 / $65
1928F,G: $2-8 / $25
1953, 53A,B,C: $2-3 / $8
1963, 63A: $2-5 / $4
1976: $2-3 / $3

Busting the myths:
US $2 bills have NEVER been discontinued or recalled and are STILL acceptable for use anywhere any other denomination is valid. They are still being printed (latest series dated 2008) although in much smaller quantities than other denominations.

Don't hoard two dollar bills--spend them. Modern ones will always be worth two dollars and you can get as many as you wish from a bank. If they are out, they can order more.

$2 "Silver Certificates"

There were no $2 silver certificates in any of the common series. From 1928 to 1963, $2 bills were issued only as United States Notes, distinguishable by their red seals. After that they've been issued as standard green-seal Federal Reserve Notes. All US bills have their type in a banner across the top of the bill's front.

This depends on the condition of the bill. In normal used condition, they are worth exactly $2.

$2 bills dated 1976 and newer are the ones worth face value only. The $3/$4 figure is reasonable for bills dating back to the 1950s. Anything older than that, please post a new question that has the bill's specific date and whether there is a little letter next to the date.

 

[luvmy3]

Spend them. You can get $2 bills at the bank, its not like they are super rare so don't feel guilty about not keeping them.

 

[marmalade]

Are any of them stamped? Have an "odd" color serial number? Old, original (1970's?) $2 can be worth WAAAAYYYY more than $2.

Newer $2 bills? Put them in your wallet and spend them. Watch the clerk go .

I'll have to check if any of them are older. I can only imagine the look on some poor unsuspecting teenagers face if I was to give them a $2 bill to pay for my coffee.

 

[Geoff_M]

Are any of them stamped? Have an "odd" color serial number? Old, original (1970's?) $2 can be worth WAAAAYYYY more than $2.

That's funny.... I thought they were like Bicentennial coins. Everyone stashed away rolls of them because they thought they'd be worth something in the feature, but they're not precisely because everyone from the era has lots of them saved!

 

[kacaju]

I work in the cafeteria at a middle school. I have a few kids who use them. Either put it in the bank or use them!

 

[SkyMedik]

If you're feeling sentimental, hold on to them for another generation? Might be worth more in a few decades....

 

[It'sWDW4me]

That's funny.... I thought they were like Bicentennial coins. Everyone stashed away rolls of them because they thought they'd be worth something in the feature, but they're not precisely because everyone from the era has lots of them saved!

Yeah, I added info to my post - apparantly my family (mom & grandma) was under that delusion, too. As a kid/teen I was never "allowed" to spend my $2 bills because they would be worth a LOT someday! Well, the ones worth a LOT.... I don't have those.... I have the $2 bills that are only worth $2.

 

[SandrA9810]

I keep one $2 bill in my wallet, other than that they get spent. I collect my change, so I already have a jug full of kennedy half dollars and the $1 coins. The guy I buy my honey from has every bottle marked with 50 cents on the end, so he just gets rolls of the half dollars to give as change. Beats messing around with quarters all the time.

 

[Samandmom]

I have bunch also.
Recently my Dad went to visit family in Italy, before he left he got about $200 worth of $2 bills from the bank. He gave them out to all the kids and some adults also. They all thought it was an awesome souvenir from the USA

 

[marmalade]

I keep one $2 bill in my wallet, other than that they get spent. I collect my change, so I already have a jug full of kennedy half dollars and the $1 coins. The guy I buy my honey from has every bottle marked with 50 cents on the end, so he just gets rolls of the half dollars to give as change. Beats messing around with quarters all the time.

I also probably have $50 in $1 coins that she has given us too. Those are in my coin jar that we cash in for Disney.

 

[tvguy]

A lot of clerks here don't want to take them......never seen them, don't think they are legal tender, and don't have a slot for them in the cash drawer. I snag everyone I can, have about 10 now. Haven't seen one in circulation in a couple of years.

 

[cluvsdisney]

One of the men in my office uses them for tips - valets, deliveries, etc. Except for in his office, I haven't seen one in years.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Keep 1 to remember your grandmother by (and as a legal tender curiosity for the kids), spend $98.

 

[marmalade]

Keep 1 to remember your grandmother by (and as a legal tender curiosity for the kids), spend $98.

That is a good idea.

 

[Disney Doll]

If they are only worth $2 I'd be spending them like any other money or depositing them to a savings account.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We always pickup $2 bills from our bank prior to our Disney Cruises. They are great for room service tips as they take up less room in our wallet, lol. We use them for airport and valet tips, too.

 

[marmalade]

If they are only worth $2 I'd be spending them like any other money or depositing them to a savings account.

The thing is, she's not giving them to us as gifts that she thinks we should spend. She is giving them to us because she thinks they are worth something and thinks we should hold onto them.