Collectors love $2 bills, especially when they boast low serial numbers — often considered a lucky omen.
Before you take one with you to Casino Royale, however, there are a few things you need to know about these wild deuces.
In a numismatic twist worthy of James Bond, bill number 0000007 fetched $2,400 in a recent auction — and was resold for $4,000 just days later.
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In the wake of that auction, some have tried their luck at local banks, hoping to net a quick buck from a bill with a low serial number. Yet one bank teller explained to GOBankingRates that there are nine reasons why fishing for $2 bills is “just not worth the fuss”.
There are two sides to a $2 bill, though, and here’s what you can do to avoid being shaken and stirred should you get one.
What to do with that two
No matter what any teller tells you, you reserve the right to ask for $2 bills (and use them) any time you like. Still, the stumbling blocks named by the employee (referred to as “Rachael”) are worth considering next time you line up at the window.
“Most people don’t even know $2 bills exist,” Rachael told GoBanking. “So we don’t keep a lot of them around. When someone does ask for them, we usually have to special order them, which is honestly a pain in the butt.”
Merchants and banks have every right to be skeptical and sometimes view the unusual bills as fraudulent.
“A lot of the newer tellers have never even seen a $2 bill,” Rachael said. “When one shows up, they might think it’s fake or a misprint. I’ve had to hop on someone else’s line to help clear it up more than once. It just slows everything down.”
In the end, you’re bound to throw some people off, especially in a digital age where most pay by contactless cards or smartphones.
The odds of snagging a rare and valuable bill equates to landing a four-leaf clover. Even if you happen to get a bill with a single-digit serial number, there’s the question of its condition. The previously auctioned $2 banknote, which sold for $1,175 in 2012, was rated 67 out of 70 on the widely used Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) scale.
That meant it was near perfect with no signs of wear or damage. Because of its pristine condition, it was preserved in a frame. Meanwhile, the elusive deuce you pray for might be well-worn after being in circulation for too long.