Your $2 Bill Could Be Worth Hundreds or Even Thousands

LOUISIANA - If you happen to have a few $2 bills tucked away in a drawer, old wallet or family keepsake box, don't be too quick to spend them.

While most $2 bills are worth exactly what they say on the front, some can be worth significantly more to collectors. Depending on the age, condition, serial number and other details, certain $2 bills can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

So before you hand that $2 bill over at the grocery store or gas station, it might be worth taking a closer look.

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The United States began printing $2 bills in 1862, and the Treasury still produces them today, although they're issued in pretty small quantities compared with other denominations like $1, $5, and $20 bills.

Some $2 Bills Can Be Worth Hundreds Of Dollars

Collectors aren't necessarily looking for every $2 bill they can find. They're searching for particular years, printing varieties, errors, serial numbers and bills that have been kept in excellent condition.

One category worth checking is older $2 bills with red Treasury seals.

READ MORE: 7 Old VHS Tapes Worth Thousands of Dollars

Certain red-seal bills released between 1928 and 1963 can be worth roughly $100 to $500, depending on the specific bill and its condition.

Check For A Star Next To The Serial Number

Another thing to look for is a little star next to the serial number.

These are known as Star Notes, and they're replacement bills that were printed when an original bill was damaged or removed from production.

Because they aren't produced in the same quantities as regular notes, some Star Notes can be really desirable to collectors. Some $2 Star Notes can reportedly be worth $1,000 or more, depending on their rarity, condition and other factors.

1976 Bicentennial $2 Bills

If you've ever been given a $2 bill from your grandparents, there's a decent chance it was a 1976 Bicentennial-era note. These bills are particularly recognizable because they were issued as the United States celebrated its 200th birthday.

Most are only worth their face value of $2, however, uncirculated or bills with printing errors, can be worth $20, $50 or even more.

READ MORE: $1 Bills From 2014-2016 are Worth Up to $150,000

Check The Serial Number On Your $2

Collectors sometimes pay big money for bills with unusual or memorable numbers.

That can include:

Very low serial numbers
Repeating numbers
Sequential numbers
Palindromic numbers - Example A90009A
Other unusual number patterns

Valuable $2 Bills

Condition Matters

Just because you have an old $2 bill doesn't automatically mean it's valuable...condition matters.

A crisp bill that has spent years tucked away safely is generally going to be more appealing than one that's been folded, torn, stained or scribbled on. If you think you've found something valuable, resist the temptation to tape it, laminate it or otherwise try to "preserve" it yourself.

There's actually an online $2 currency price and value guide you can check to get started over at uscurrencyauctions.com.