Most people don’t think twice about a $2 bill. Some keep them tucked away in wallets for good luck, while others rarely see them at all. I grew up thinking they were something special—my grandmother would give me a crisp $2 bill in every birthday card, always with the same instruction: “Don’t spend this one. It’s lucky.”

So I never did. I had a small collection of wrinkled, folded $2 bills stuffed into an old envelope. I assumed they were worth exactly $2 each. Maybe a little more sentimentally. But not actually more.

Then I mentioned them to a friend who collects currency. His eyes lit up. “What years?” he asked. “What condition? Do you have any red seals?”

I had no idea what he was talking about. So he showed me.

Certain $2 bills—especially older ones, certain series, and those with printing errors—can be worth significantly more than face value. A few hundred dollars. Sometimes a few thousand. In very rare cases, even more.

That old $2 bill sitting in a drawer could be worth more than its face value. Let me walk you through what to look for, which bills are valuable, and how to tell if you’re holding a hidden treasure.

Why Are $2 Bills Special? (A Little History)

The $2 bill has always been one of the least common forms of U.S. currency in circulation. Although millions have been printed over the years, they are not used as frequently as other bills, making them feel rare to many people.

The front of the bill features Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who authored the Declaration of Independence. The back of the bill has changed over the years, but most modern versions display John Trumbull’s painting “The Signing of the Declaration of Independence” (the same artwork appears on the back of the modern $2 bill).

Because people tend to save them instead of spending them (thanks to the “lucky” reputation), older versions in excellent condition can attract strong interest from collectors.

But not every $2 bill is valuable. Here’s what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary.

The Most Valuable $2 Bills (What to Look For)

Let me give you a quick reference guide. I’ve organized this by what makes a $2 bill valuable, from most common (still worth more than $2) to incredibly rare.