Usually we focus on specific coins and paper money which are very rare and very valuable. In most cases, these are collectible items that can be valuable because they are highly sought-after. However, that isn’t the case with the 1995 $2 bill.
In fact, almost all of these bills are worth only their face value even though $2 bills are extremely rare since they make up only 0,001% of all currency denominations used in circulation. So why are we writing a full article on it?
Some bills have special symbols, errors, and serial numbers that make them unique. The secret of a valuable 1995 2 dollar bill is hidden in these details.
Are $2 Bills Good Collectible Items?
We live in a digital era where people mainly use credit cards and virtual currencies rather than real money, so soon enough all coins and bills will become collectible items. But some will be more valuable than others depending on rarity, provenance, historical significance and condition.
So why not start investing now in bills and currencies that are already rare but not yet valuable? All varieties of $2 bills have the potential to become very valuable in the next few decades. Today you can buy a $2 bill for a modest price tag and earn some good money in the future.
Even if your $2 bill doesn’t multiply its worth you know you didn’t invest too much money so you will gain in either case. We will try to help you choose the best investment options when it comes to 1995 $2 bills.
There are different price tags, depending on the condition, serial number, etc, but we can guarantee that there is a bill for everyone’s budget. Let’s explore our options…
What Makes The 1995 $2 Bill Series Attractive To Collectors?
There are a few different varieties that make the 1995 $2 bill a great collectible item. Details like star notes, low serial number notes (if they have six zeros or more), and printing error bills will significantly increase the value of any bill.
1995 $2 bills are green seal Federal Reserve notes – they feature Thomas Jefferson on the face side and the Signing of the Declaration of Independence on the backside.
Also, all those banknotes are signed by Mary Ellen Withrow as the Treasurer of The United States and Robert E. Rubin as the Secretary of the Treasury. There are three series of 1995 $2 bills:
- Regular issue 1995 $2 bills – These were only issued for The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and you will recognize them by the serial number. Their serial numbers start with the letter F and end with the letter A. Approximately 153,600,000 of these notes were printed.
- Regular star 1995 $2 bills – These bills were also only printed for The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Approximately 1,280,000 of these bills were published.
- 1995 $2 Millennium star notes – These bills were produced and distributed in all twelve districts. They were printed as a special promotion by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Approximately 119,988 1995 $2 Millennium star notes were produced for this purpose. You will recognize them by their serial number which begins with a letter (A – L) and a star symbol at the end. These banknotes were popular at the time and today they will fetch you at least $30 if the condition is good.
List Of The Most Valuable 1995 2 Dollar Bills
Unfortunately, almost all circulated $2 bills from 1995 will only be worth their face value of $2. In fact, an uncirculated 1995 $2 bill will only be worth double its face value – you can earn 4 dollars or maybe a few bucks more if it is in an extraordinary condition. For example, an MS63 grade 1995 $2 bill will fetch you between $5 to $10.
What counts as a rare and valuable 1995 $2 bill is the one that has a unique serial number range such as:
- ladder up (F12345678B);
- ladder down (F87654321B);
- low (F00000001B);
- high (F99999999B);
- birth year (F00001995B).
Star note varieties are worth the most and will earn you around $500, depending on the quality and serial number range. If you aren’t satisfied with $500, then you should look for the Millennium star notes which are the rarest and will bring you a lot more money.
What About The 1995 $2 Bill Star Replacement Notes?
These notes were only issued for the Bank of Atlanta, you’ll recognize them easily since they have the prefix F and a star symbol at the end. There were around 1,280,000 regular issue star replacement notes printed for circulation.
However, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing also printed replacement Millennium star notes but only for the purpose of collection. BEP printed a batch of 9,999 of each of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks Millennial star notes.
Recognizing these banknotes is quite easy. They come with serial numbers that began with the prefixes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L. These prefixes label each of the twelve banks. After the prefix, there is 2000 which is followed by a four-digit string of random numbers between 0001 and 9999. A star symbol at the end of the serial number is essential.
Most Valuable 1995 $2 Bill Chart
Banknote Grading Guide
Paper money is very susceptible to damages, folds, tears, rips, etc. All of these imperfections, no matter how minor they are, will decrease the price tag of your banknote.
To make sure you can grade your bill at home you need to know some basic tips. The following list will describe how your banknote must look to achieve a particular grade:
- Fair or poor – These are bills from circulation that show lots of wear and tear, folds, rips, and large pieces missing (mainly corners). These bills are only worth their face value.
- Good – Also bills from circulation but with fewer damages, folds, smaller tears, and pieces missing. Can earn you some extra cash besides the face value.
- Very good – Banknotes used in circulation but which remained in great condition. These will have small tears and appear very worn but without any significant damage.
- Fine – Circulated banknotes without any tears, only have some small folds. The color is usually faded from usage.
- Very fine – These banknotes are whole and dirty with wrinkling and folds. The coloring is bright and there will be only small signs of usage.
- Extremely fine – The bills are sturdy and crisper under the fingers but still show minor signs of handling. These include pinches, folds, and smudges.
- About uncirculated – These bills are almost uncirculated, meaning they were in circulation for a very short time. They will have no signs of handling and no more than 2 folds and corner folds. If there is some discoloration a note will not achieve AU grade.
- Choice uncirculated – If you come across a banknote that is graded CU there will be maybe only a minor corner fold and signs of minor handling.
- Gem uncirculated – These bills are fresh from the mint. There are no flaws, no folds, and no signs of handling. Only top-rated banknotes will have perfectly centered images.
1995 $2 Bill Value Evaluation
Sometimes, rarity won’t increase a note’s value if it is so damaged that it can’t be displayed as a collectible item. This is where the grading system above will help you out. However, the price will also depend on the following factors:
- Demand – Since the $2 bill is the least printed US currency denomination most Americans think it is super valuable. Unfortunately it isn’t, not even among collectors. However, this is something which can change overnight.
- Condition – As expected, the uncirculated bills will have the best condition so they are worth more than circulated bills. Pay attention to those that feature well-centered images or have their original crispness without any signs of usage.
- Rarity – Most $2 bills, no matter the year of printing have low serial numbers which makes them fairly common. The only scarce version of $2 bills is those that have special symbols, errors, or serial numbers.
- Serial number – Bills with unique serial numbers can fetch you a lot of money.
- Printing errors – Any printing error will increase the collecting value, properly placed or doubled seals on the $2 bill is what will for sure increase the price of your bill.
- Palindromes and ladder bills – Radar notes ($2 bills with the same serial numbers when reading from backward and forward) or ladder bills (bill with 12345678 number series) will be worth a lot more than you expect.
- Star notes – Star notes of any denomination have increased value. You’ll notice a star next to the serial number. This means your bill is a replacement bill which is relatively rare.
Where Should You Look For Rare 1995 $2 Bills?
Check your pocket change just in case, sometimes a rare serial number can show up in circulation without people noticing it. The second option is visiting numismatic shops and shows where collectible money is displayed for interest and purchase.
There are a lot of online forums and collecting communities where you can check for active listings. If you are lucky you can even trade collectibles with other members.
Other places you should check are auction sites like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers. These are always great options since you can check current prices as well as sell or buy particular currencies.
FAQs
What are ladder 2 dollar bills?
Ladder bills are the rarest possible $2 bill. They feature an in sequence (i.e. 12345678) number series. They are extremely rare because you can find only one printed in every 96 million pieces. Moreover, there are also reverse ladder bills within the A87654321A series.
These are also very interesting but less desirable than ladder notes. Keep in mind that there is also a less expensive broken ladder form, for example A00012345.
How to recognize a fake $2 bill?
$2 bills are the least counterfeited dollar bills. However, some rare varieties may be desirable for reproduction so here is how you can recognize a fake $2 bill:
Take the bill in your hand, if it feels like printer paper then it is fake.
Also, pay attention to the following:
- Is it laminated?
- Black and white?
- More sizeable than real paper money?
- Does it look smaller than real paper money?
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Long Story Short
Searching for a valuable $2 bill can be a long and daunting task but in the end, it can pay off significantly. The majority of well-experienced collectors give up collecting the $2 bills. Mainly because they don’t think it is worth investing so much time and energy in searching for a banknote that won’t bring you any significant earnings in the near future.
This might be your chance if you are a new money collector to get in early and reep the benefits in the long term. If you have valuable information about these banknotes which we didn’t mention, please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
