2dollar.US

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Timeline

Every $2 note type since 1862, in order. The marker color is the seal color, which tells you what kind of money it was.

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Every Note Type, 1862 to 2025

  • Red seal: United States Notes (Legal Tender)
  • Blue seal: Silver Certificates and Federal Reserve Bank Notes
  • Brown seal: Treasury Notes and National Bank Notes
  • Green seal: Federal Reserve Notes
  • No note issued
  1. 1862

    First $2 Legal Tender NoteRed Seal

    Issued by the federal government during the Civil War with a profile portrait of Alexander Hamilton, 87 years after the Continental Congress printed its first two. Printed by the National Bank Note Company. The plain green back gave "greenbacks" their name.

    1862 two-dollar Legal Tender Note face with Alexander Hamilton
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1862 $2 Legal Tender Note back, green legal tender panel
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  2. 1869

    Jefferson Takes the FaceRed Seal

    Thomas Jefferson at left and the U.S. Capitol at center. The BEP records this as the first use of the Jefferson portrait on a $2 note; it has appeared on every $2 United States Note and Federal Reserve Note since. 14,408,000 printed.

    1869 two-dollar United States Note face with Jefferson and the Capitol
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1869 $2 United States Note back, the Rainbow note with its green and black lathework
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  3. 1875

    The Lazy DeuceNational Bank Note

    Series 1875 National Bank Notes, issued through local chartered banks, show a woman with a flag and a large sideways numeral 2. Sir Walter Raleigh and tobacco on the back. 1,381,205 printed.

    Series 1875 two-dollar National Bank Note face, the Lazy Deuce
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    Series 1875 $2 National Bank Note back with Sir Walter Raleigh
    Back. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  4. 1874 to 1880

    Legal Tender RevisionsRed Seal

    The Jefferson and Capitol design was revised in 1874, 1875, 1878, and 1880, mostly in seal and serial colors and border ornament. Totals: 11,632,000; 11,518,000; 4,676,000; 28,212,000.

    1880 two-dollar United States Note face with a large brown seal
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1880 $2 United States Note back with the large ornate TWO
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  5. 1886

    Silver Certificate, HancockSilver Certificate

    The first $2 Silver Certificate, redeemable in silver dollars, with General Winfield Scott Hancock. 21,000,000 printed.

    1886 two-dollar Silver Certificate face with Winfield Scott Hancock
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1886 $2 Silver Certificate back with the ornate green counters
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  6. 1890 and 1891

    Treasury Notes, McPhersonTreasury Note

    Issued for government purchases of silver bullion, with General James B. McPherson. The 1890 back was so dense it was redesigned in 1891 with more open space. 24,904,000 for both series.

    1890 two-dollar Treasury Note face with James B. McPherson
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1890 $2 Treasury Note back, the dense design later simplified
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  7. 1891

    Silver Certificate, WindomSilver Certificate

    Treasury Secretary William Windom replaced Hancock at the center of the note. 20,988,000 printed.

    1891 two-dollar Silver Certificate face with William Windom
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1891 $2 Silver Certificate back with the open green design
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  8. 1896

    The Educational SeriesSilver Certificate

    Science presenting Steam and Electricity to Commerce and Manufacture on the face; Robert Fulton and Samuel F. B. Morse on the back. 20,652,000 printed, and widely called the most beautiful U.S. note.

    1896 two-dollar Educational Series Silver Certificate face
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1896 $2 Educational Series back with Fulton and Morse
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  9. 1899

    Silver Certificate, WashingtonSilver Certificate

    A small George Washington between allegorical figures of agriculture and mechanics. The workhorse of the large-size era: 538,734,000 printed.

    1899 two-dollar Silver Certificate face with George Washington
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1899 $2 Silver Certificate back with the large ornate TWO
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  10. 1917

    Last Large-Size Legal TenderRed Seal

    The Jefferson and Capitol design returned with red seal and serials. 317,416,000 printed, the largest United States Note total for the denomination.

    1917 two-dollar United States Note face with Jefferson and the Capitol
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    1917 $2 United States Note back with the Bracelet design
    Back. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  11. 1918

    The Battleship NoteFederal Reserve Bank Note

    An obligation of the individual Federal Reserve Bank named on it, with a borderless Jefferson and a battleship on the back. 68,116,000 printed. The last large-size $2.

    Read the Full Era: Large-Size Notes, 1862 to 1918

    1918 two-dollar Federal Reserve Bank Note face, Boston
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note back showing a battleship
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  12. 1928

    Small Size, MonticelloRed Seal

    Currency shrinks to today's dimensions. Red seal and serials, cropped Jefferson portrait, and Monticello on the back for the first time. Series 1928 through 1928G: 430,760,000 printed.

    Series 1928 two-dollar United States Note face, serial A00000001A
    Face. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
    Series 1928 $2 United States Note back showing Monticello
    Back. Smithsonian NNC via Wikimedia Commons.
  13. 1953

    Smaller SealRed Seal

    The Treasury seal shrinks and moves right over a gray "TWO"; the obligation moves over a gray 2. Series 1953 through 1953C: 79,920,000 printed.

    Series 1953 two-dollar United States Note face, red seal, with Thomas Jefferson
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    Series 1953 $2 United States Note back showing Monticello
    Back. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  14. 1963

    "In God We Trust"Red Seal

    The motto is added above Monticello and "WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND" is removed. Series 1963 and 1963A: 18,560,000 printed. The last red-seal $2.

    Read the Full Era: Red Seal Notes, 1928 to 1966

    Series 1963A two-dollar United States Note face, the last red seal $2, with Thomas Jefferson
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    Series 1963A $2 United States Note back with IN GOD WE TRUST above Monticello
    Back. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  15. August 1966 to April 1976

    DiscontinuedNo Note

    The Treasury discontinues the $2 in August 1966, when it is about one-third of one percent of currency outstanding and the average note lasts six years because nobody spends it. For nearly ten years no $2 note is printed.

  16. April 13, 1976

    The ReturnGreen Seal

    Announced November 3, 1975; released on Jefferson's birthday as a Federal Reserve Note with green seal and the Declaration of Independence on the back. Printed December 1975 through September 1979 for all twelve districts: 575,360,000 regular notes and 15,360,000 star notes.

    Series 1976 two-dollar Federal Reserve Note face, Philadelphia district
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    Series 1976 $2 Federal Reserve Note back, the Declaration of Independence
    Back, new for 1976. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    Series 1976 two-dollar note with a 13-cent stamp and April 1976 postmark
    A first-day note with its postmark. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  17. 1996

    Series 1995Green Seal

    The first new $2 in seventeen years, printed August through November 1996 for the Atlanta district only, and the first printed at Fort Worth. 153,600,000 regular notes, 1,280,000 stars.

    Series 1995 $2 Federal Reserve Note face, Atlanta district, serial F79864762A, Withrow and Rubin signatures
    Face. Photograph: 2dollar.us.
    Series 1995 two-dollar Federal Reserve Note back
    Back. Photograph: 2dollar.us.
  18. 2003

    Series 2003Green Seal

    Printed August through October 2003 for the Minneapolis district only. 121,600,000 regular notes, 3,840,000 stars.

    Series 2003 $2 Federal Reserve Note face, Minneapolis district, serial I20099472A, Marin and Snow signatures
    Face. Photograph: 2dollar.us.
    Series 2003 two-dollar Federal Reserve Note back
    Back. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  19. 2006

    Series 2003AGreen Seal

    Printed July through September 2006 for all twelve districts. 230,400,000 regular notes, 320,000 stars.

    Series 2003A $2 Federal Reserve Note face, Boston district
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    Series 2003A two-dollar Federal Reserve Note back
    Back. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  20. 2012

    Series 2009Green Seal

    Printed February through August 2012 for seven districts. 134,400,000 regular notes, 640,000 stars.

    Series 2009 $2 Federal Reserve Note face, Boston district, serial A12399243A, Rios and Geithner signatures
    Face. Photograph: 2dollar.us.
    Series 2009 two-dollar Federal Reserve Note back, the Declaration of Independence engraving
    Back. Photograph: 2dollar.us.
  21. 2013 to 2019

    Series 2013Green Seal

    The longest modern run, printed November 2013 through August 2019 for all twelve districts. 300,800,000 regular notes, 5,248,000 stars.

    Series 2013 $2 Federal Reserve Note face, New York district
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons.
    Back of a modern two-dollar Federal Reserve Note
    Back, unchanged since 1976. Via Wikimedia Commons.
  22. 2019

    Series 2017AGreen Seal

    Printing began August 2019 with Carranza and Mnuchin signatures. The first runs, in August and September 2019, covered ten districts and 115,200,000 notes, with Philadelphia stars. The BEP's $2 page still describes it as the most recent printing.

    Series 2017A $2 Federal Reserve Note face, New York district, serial B40541213A, Carranza and Mnuchin signatures
    Face. Via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
    Series 2017A two-dollar Federal Reserve Note back
    Back. Via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
  23. 2025

    Series 2021Green Seal

    Malerba and Yellen signatures. The BEP's monthly reports show the series arriving in stages: Kansas City star notes in March 2025, then regular notes for Atlanta and San Francisco in September 2025 (38,400,000 and 51,200,000 in that month), and runs for New York, Cleveland, and San Francisco in December 2025. The Bureau's reports for early 2026 show no $2 rows, which matches the Federal Reserve's zero order for 2026.

    Read the Full Era: The Modern Bill, 1976 to Today

    Series 2021 $2 Federal Reserve Note face, New York district, serial B00884075A, Malerba and Yellen signatures
    Face. Photograph: 2dollar.us.
    Series 2021 two-dollar Federal Reserve Note back, the Declaration of Independence engraving
    Back. Photograph: 2dollar.us.

Sources: BEP, $2 Note · Richmond Fed, "The $2 Bill Returns," 1976 (pre-1976 totals, discontinuation) · USPaperMoney.info $2 serial tables (1976 to 2017A counts and print months) · CoinWeek (November 3, 1975 announcement) · BEP Monthly Production Report, September 2025 (PDF) · BEP, March 2025 report (PDF) · BEP, December 2025 report (PDF) · 2017A first runs per Coin World · design descriptions per Wikipedia