The Nefarious Past of the Two-Dollar Bill

The $2 has a sketchy past. Shortly after Independence, the Federal Reserve started printing money, but only issued coins at first due to Americans’ average salary of $15/month. Soon after the Reserve's predominant use for the “Tom” (nicknamed for Thomas Jefferson’s image) was for gambling, bribes and prostitutes, so the bill got a bad rap. During the United States Bicentennial in 1976, the reserve started to reproduce “Toms,” but made such beautiful bills that people didn’t want to spend them, thinking that they’d increase in value somewhere down the line. Today, the bills still exist, but comprise a fraction of all bills printed by the Federal Reserve. There are even $2 ambassadors, who visit banks to ensure that the “Toms” remain in circulation.
SUBSCRIBE: goo.gl/vR6Acb
Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: goo.gl/2KABeX
Make our acquaintance on Facebook: goo.gl/Vn0XIZ
Give us a shout on Twitter: goo.gl/sY1GLY
Visit our world directly: www.greatbigsto...
Great Big Story is a video network dedicated to the untold, overlooked & flat-out amazing. Humans are capable of incredible things & we're here to tell their stories. When a rocket lands in your backyard, you get in.

[@BrandonE927]

Toms would be so great for use nowadays since most snack and drink items in corner stores come out to a little less than two dollars.

[@azkanify]

unfortunately not for vending machine lol

[@nivroxa7766]

True

[@firepower7017]

Hype Nivro At the Casinos it is very very very very very common to see $2 bills

[@dontask7842]

Brandon Escobedo use a one or 2

[@GIJew]

@@azkanify It's funny because vending machines have the ability to read $2 bills. The vendor usually disables it though...

[@Creationsbyelder]

I used to have my bank save them for me and I would go by every couple of weeks and get $60, $100 worth. I loved to use them to tip waitstaff and would give them to my kids for doing their chores. It was great seeing the look on a cashiers face when one of the kids would hand them a $2 bill. A few times they would look them over, trying to figure out if they were real or not, lol.

[@pippincovington1348]

Greg Dinert said the youtube commenter. he leaned back in his chair, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. "I really told that old man," he thought, "he'll think twice before brightening someone's day again! I dont know what people would do without me."

[@Creationsbyelder]

LOL

[@Creationsbyelder]

@Greg Dinert You got me figured out, yup!!!

[@njw387]

this is a pure comment

[@Whatshappening2024]

i only clicked on this because i read a story of a guy trying to buy a burrito or something with one of these and the manager of the store called the cops for trying to use fake currency lol

[@juliezaremskiy3635]

I wanna try using a tom now lol!

[@beatrix1120]

This seems really wired to me, coming from a country where $2.00 is common lol

[@ThomasBob]

I bought ice cream with a $2 bill, the guy took it without question. (lol sorry I'm a year later to respond)

[@duck-qg7vb]

Jinzo So the manager called the cops for using an uncommon dollar?

[@LiezerZero]

Yea, my cousin is a little weird for some people.

[@jaipoh]

So I'm guessing I can go to the bank and ask for $200 in $2 bills?

[@PeterMetzger]

+jpaulie assuming there are 200 dollars in your account to withdraw, yes. Some smaller banks only keep a few on hand so they may need to order them in for you but sooner or later you can get them, no problem.

[@melinuxfool]

+jpaulie I have done so many times.

[@misaelortega653]

JP yea I've gotten 2 of them at the tcf bank

[@LiezerZero]

So... its one year later.. How many of my cousins do you have in your wallet?

[@bigallan7181]

LOL, I HAVE 0 of your cousins.... I'm poor...

[@realgenuinemakour]

Until of course the cashier at wendy's says they're fake.

[@goldenbeardofficial8541]

Riley Graham cause she's an illegal mexican

[@elijared]

Happened to me at a Sams

[@joyfulsquishies2698]

Riley Graham happened to my dad when we got lunch. But it was with a hundo

[@d00mboy13]

Thats why they work at wendys. There fucking stupid.

[@Dyl_Apple]

There was a whole big news story about how a school lunch lady called the cops on a kid for trying to spend a two dollar bill and I think the cop even called her stupid and said something like “lady if he was going to make a counterfeit bill why the hell would he counterfeit a two dollar bill?”

[@RedRaiderLobo20]

I tried to use some $2’s recently and got completely shut down because the guy taking my money had “no way to know if they were real.” I then tried to pay with a $50 (smallest other bills I had), and he wouldn’t make change for it. When I went for the debit card, he said there was a $5 limit. In effect, I had over $200, but couldn’t buy an ice cream. One of the most absurd things I ever experienced, all because this guy was too dumb to realize $2 bills are legitimate currency worth $2...

[@asheep7797]

Surprised you only had 2's, 50's, and 100's.

[@swaggin1716]

Who’s counterfeiting $2 bills lmao

[@Marichii1]

and this is why my mom asks random cashiers for $2 bills

[@ashyy6819]

Does She Ever Get Any?

[@firepower7017]

That One Guy Trust me it is better to have none because one day I was broke and I had to resort to using $2 bills and a cashier rejected me for using a rare type of currency so I went hungry heck I almost went crazy so in all honesty waste any $2 bills they aren't rare just uncommon and mistaken for rare till it ain't acceptable

[@hammythesyrianhamster7300]

Marichii just ask the bank

[@dilainimendez2121]

Marichii I just went to the store right now and my mom told me to get a dollor I didn’t notice it was a 2 dollar bill and the guy told me to give it to him that it was fine and I’m scared now cause what if my mom wanted that for memories or something

[@weirdspongeguy]

Differences between UK and US UK: £2 coin is normal money US: $2 bill = gun pointed at you

[@thefishingboy2065]

XD

[@blackbacon08]

Um, what?

[@jjplayslegogames3702]

Two pounds and two dollars are different

[@RaBlazers]

You missed the point

[@daviddrivez9978]

Someone paid with a $2 bill at my first day on my job. I swapped 2 of my $1s for it and still have it as a souvenir of the first day of the best job I've ever had.

[@charlesyoung9980]

I paid for $45 in gas today with half dollars and was called a counterfeiter.....

[@Luke-hq5zd]

Paying in Canada and U.S. with $2 Canada: paying with toonie is normal U.S: cashiers call the cops

[@scotth8146]

Places like strip clubs will often hand out $2 bills as change because the change will likely go to strippers. Giving someone a $2 bill will increase the likelyhood of a customer tipping a stripper $2 whereas a customer with two $1 might only give the stripper $1.

[@noelle6829]

*cue Alexander Hamilton laughing*

[@aprilfjckadcfhf910]

Roofingdoggo *cue burr shooting Hamilton*

[@von3689]

@@aprilfjckadcfhf910 *cue Thomas Jefferson laughing*

[@Old_Hickory_Jackson]

Bruh

[@tennisdude52278]

Two dollar bills are awesome. When something is $4 you can pay with two bills instead of 4. Also would be nice if vending machines accepted them so you could pay with one bill for things that are $1.50.

[@who7435]

My Uncle is a bussiness man, and when I was like 4, he paid my $50 in $2 bills for my birthday xD

[@ahab9694]

I discovered that the $2 dollar bill was a thing like a few years ago.

[@scribble71891]

My uncle gave me a two dollar bill once, said that it was considered a bad luck charm in the south and that no store owner would accept it so I used it when I got back to NY. I should've kept it.

[@tictacmaybeau6707]

I honestly never knew they were special until my friends saw me carrying around only 2 dollar bills a few years ago. My family only ever paid me in them so I never really thought much of it tbh

[@TheBoyBanditKing1911]

They are not special. They are not even rare.

[@jacobriddle7230]

I always carry twos more often then not I get something that is two dollars rather than one it saves space

[@drywalleater13628]

"go ahead, use a tom" uhm sir I don't think that's how humans work

[@bucurionutrusu3260]

Casey Neistat 2$ Bill Ambasador

[@klegendm2819]

Conopan Bumbescu correction $2 bill overload of a alien civilization

[@georgettelommen]

New Brand Dollar?

[@fakepro5848]

Exactly what I was thinking!!!

[@blacksabfan]

No, I am the $2 Bill Ambassador.

[@jordansunderman5348]

That register is strange because US bills were larger before the late 20's.

[@rustyshackelford3371]

I paid with a $2 United States Note (not a Federal Reserve Note). Had more of a red coloring, and a different picture on the back, if I remember right. Cashier used the pen on it and shrugged her shoulders. I go to that store all the time, so they were cool. Btw, a coin dealer had offered $2.50 for the bill. I was so disgusted with the low premium I decided to just spend it somewhere. I also spent Eisenhower dollar coins all over town. Better to get those out there, maybe spark an interest in someone about the history of our money, than to get a low premium over face value. I did sell my gold certificates, oh but I did spend a couple of $5 silver certificates. Transactions went smoothly

[@Danny_Does_Drawings]

I have a couple of these in mint condition that I keep. Along with my shiny 1927 wheaties.

[@rockstaraz6576]

I'm a 2 Dollar Ambassador ! Everyday I get $200 Dollars worth & Spend it at Local businesses ! The 2 Dollar Bill Breaks the Ice like a hot knife threw Butter !

[@rockstaraz6576]

Once a month ... I Spend daily .

[@renarts2211]

*I have a 2 dollar bill in my wallet* I DONT EVEN LIVE IN AMERICA I LIVE IN EUROPE

[@autumn64fromdeltarunechapter3]

A Tommie took an vacation overseas

[@MuggyOne71]

@@autumn64fromdeltarunechapter3 LMAO

[@ThomasFarquhar2]

We have £50 notes in the UK Legend has it that only the rich have seen them And the literal money makers

[@jackmccallum335]

I had someone pay in a $2 bill once and our cash out procedure didn’t even have the bill as an option

[@limeyfigdet7460]

These would be perfect for my trips to the dollar store, and other small purchases.

[@jeffreylewis4097]

I have always carried the same two-dollar bill with me for six years, and I've taken it across the world :) its my lucky two!

[@ankylopea]

U.S.S. Grant on the 50 dollar bill: *Am I a joke?*

[@rospie4062]

My country, Bulgaria, used a bill for 2 levs(which is approximately 1 euro) but recently switched to coin for it

[@lemonwedge]

I was gonna buy some chips and pay with a $2 bill and the cashier said get out or he will call the police

[@CFM2]

Bro my dad works at a bank and every time they pay him he always say “can you guys pay me in 2 dollar bills” and when my dad comes home he will give me 5 of them 2 dollar bills

[@mrx-yj5wi]

I'm Canadian, we had $2 bills, now we have $2 coins. Let me tell you $2 bills rule! A few $2 bills you're not broke and no one is hitting you up either, you can pay for stuff without breaking out big bills, nor worry about change.

[@RetroHabit82]

I always hold onto $2 bills dated 1995 or earlier, especially a red seal note.

[@tammybarton6308]

you forgot the 5 dollar bill you 1 10 20 50 100

[@LiezerZero]

And you forgot my cousin.. the $2 dollar bill.

[@Josh-jb5cd]

He forgot 50..

[@savagedude9689]

2s, 5s, 50s, 500s, 1,000s, 10,000s, 100,000s

[@jynflyn1679]

I remember having that when I was little and I thought i just imagined it like that

[@dellanino8216]

Who else has one

[@TheGoodoleWill216]

My name Jeff I had one in my money book and it was a long time ago like back in 2014

[@supergamer1613]

Me

[@topfin8441]

I’m going to spend them

[@alittlehair3056]

Succ

[@alejandrorodriguez3564]

My dad has a stash of them..

[@MasterGXD]

there's a metal recycling place thing near me and on there commercials their slogan is "well pay you in 2 dollar bills" or something like that

[@woxof46]

I honestly thought $2 bills were fake... then I watched this video. Learn something new every day.

[@josuevegaj23]

I had a $2 bill but I gave it to a homeless person. They needed it more than me :)

[@carolynmmitchell2240]

IDK IF I'M A MEXICAN POTATO OR AN AMERICAN POTATO why can't you be an Idaho potato

[@dylanmcguire2090]

One act of kindness is a start to a new you.

[@hidethesaucex3978]

Don't give money to the homeless on the streets, they are mostly druggies and that's why they don't go to shelters. Shelters won't give them drug money.

[@daphnerodriguez9980]

THANKS YOU GOODNESS 🌟❤️🖤💚🤎 FAMILY DAPHNE COTTON ALWAYS 💜

[@BugHwi]

My uncle used to give us $2 bills as a prize for answering his questions and riddles right during his and my aunt's annual Purim (Jewish holiday) party.

[@raeyearnd3260]

as a "gimmick" in the 70s,, we kept 2s in our restaurant register as we ran a lunch buffet that ended up a little less than 3.00 including drink,, so when people would pay with a 5 they would get a 2 in change

[@oysterstu4822]

Leading to *FEWER* bills in circulation. "Less" is for units which may be counted as a singular whole, or items which cannot be counted individually (ex. water, rain, milk, sand) and comparisons & downgrades (ex. less common, less rare, less popular, less factual, etc). Know the difference!

[@santoryu3077]

I'm quite happy that in SG we still have a $2 bill but no longer a $1 note and that we have to use $1 coins

[@psychosorcerer9438]

As one of the aforementioned 2 dollar ambassadors, it brings joy to people's day.

[@dateddelvings1695]

I keep one bill for myself but I do use any others I find. Because of its uniqueness, the $2 bill is my favorite :)

[@pronintendo1984]

I only ever collect $2 bills if I get them from Series 1976 (the year they were reintroduced). After that they're just normal currency for me

[@Immortal-Daiki]

I think I’ve used toms only twice in my life. Once in Philly and once in NYC. That’s it

[@ryanexx5250]

Does anyone else just have a $2 bill lying around in their wallet?

[@icaruspyrrhos]

I have like 20 of these fuckers that i keep as a relic.

[@signormalc]

I keep mostly Two’s in my wallet

[@tentacletiddies]

i went to the pharmacy to buy some cough drops and my mom didn't have enough change on her for the 2.00 dollars so she was like "Should we use the 2?" and my mom was like "they dont usually make them anymore and they're rare" so i gave it to the guy there and a woman too, they both were like "Wow it's a two, pretty rare" it was kind of sad letting it go tho

[@auadisian]

Once in a hotel in St. Louis, I pulled a $2 bill from my wallet by mistake... The receptionist got excited until I put it back and pulled a $5 instead!

[@IkeTurner2.0]

Why no tax or inflation....$1.25,....$1.99ect .....$2.00bill no inflation

[@catherinebee5532]

Great Big Story: next time spend a Tom Me who lives in Australia: wtf I cant

[@قربانعلیمحمدیفولادی]

ای خدا این همه پول یک خورده ما را کمک کنید پجه من مریض ای خدا چقدر به یک سری میدهی هرچه داشتم فروختم

[@ShiVodka]

My parents had them but they lost it D: I don't even remember losing it

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

+TigerLaspy I had two over my lifetime and somehow I lost them both, I have yet to encounter one of these bad boys in the wild again.

[@BushMania4]

Make a trip to the bank and ask for their stash

[@sekritdinos7221]

I knew a girl in high school who would go to the bank and have her pay check cashed for $2 bills. They made sure to keep them in hand for her.

[@cristobalaguilar6876]

My mom considers them good luck. She first got one the day she got her papers and still has it that was like 30 yrs ago

[@LoydAvenheart]

I don't want the cops called on me every-time I go to buy a burger so I'll pass on *using a tom*.

[@yinan02]

There is a movie theater by my home which uses only $2 bills for change.

[@MK-ex4pb]

I like spending them. I just wish stores and stuff gave them as change. I hate having to constantly go to the bank for them

[@sophisticated_1614]

I have all these old bills tucked away somewhere in my house don't remember where

[@kitandevaproductions]

Before my grandma died, we were going around her room, cleaning up. (We didn’t know she wasn’t going to get better) and I found 2 two dollar bills, I will probably never be able to spend them

[@h.p.734]

I've got a "tom" in my wallet right now.

[@discovaria9507]

0:37 WHY SOMEONE HASNT REALIZED THAT GIRL HAVE 6 TOES OMG!!!

[@RaBlazers]

Ok and...?

[@Doodles-es1ep]

No I'm pretty sure the last thing you would except to find in your wallet is a $500 dollar bill

[@officialnezquick]

I’m a carhop at sonic and a women tipped me $4 in 2 $2 bills. I’ll cherish these forever!

[@TnseWlms]

I don't see much need for a $2 bill, but I wish they would make a successful dollar coin.

[@melinuxfool]

+TnseWlms The reason the dollar coin was successful in Canada is because of two factors: #1. They had a circulating $2 denomination #2. They eliminated the dollar bill. $2's should be used for the same reason we use $20's to make change for a $50 instead of all $10's. That is, you don't need as many bills to make change. It's more efficient, and there is less chance for a cashier to miscount. Think of the mathematical problems that they teach in elementary school: how do you make change using the fewest number of coins and bills? If I'm owed $3 in change, I'd rather not get it in pennies, nickels, or dimes. Quarters or halves wouldn't be that bad, nor would three $1 bills or coins, but the best is a single $2 bill and either a $1 bill or a $1 coin.

[@TnseWlms]

+melinuxfool The comedian Dave Allen once said, "The British government is considering printing a £50 note. And if it is successful, they will print another one."

[@clintgolub1751]

Besides the one we already have?

[@alephbet6265]

TnseWlms take out the penny, then make a toonie, and that's it

[@toastyyybeats]

I clicked on this video and the ad was a Zimbabwean 1 trillion dollar bill breakdown of the design.

[@IanCoxAfrica]

When Zimbabwe started using the USD as their official currency, they bought up a bunch of $2 bills. I remember going to an ATM and getting a whole stack of dirty old $2 bills.

[@jailbreaker1214]

i used to collect a bunch but i realized that 2 dollar bills arent rare so they really have no value in terms of collection.

[@parka0m485]

In Australia the $2 coin is the 2nd smallest coin

[@benfogel1170]

Did anyone notice he forgot 50$

[@JackieBright]

So I can just go to the bank and ask for 2 dollar bills?

[@awesomemarvelhero111]

yes

[@topfin8441]

Yes, they give whole straps of 100 of them, a lot of times they are uncirculated or are in good shape. I picked up 9 of them and I’m going to spend them.

[@howHumam]

Strip clubs love toms, that where I get mine... it's also strategic cuz those are the only places I know that have them so if you try to spend them somewhere they where you got them from:)

[@chilidog2469]

I have a few of them, and I didn't know they were still being printed

[@PBandNelly]

I have Vietnamese relatives that hand out envelopes with 2 or 3 of these every new year, but they told me I shouldn't spend them because they are good luck?

[@Userjellyfish43]

My grandpa gives me Toms as presents, but I never knew that I could actually use them

[@DFusions_]

I read online a kid got in trouble for trying to buy school lunch with a $2 bill It's just a little kid why would you try to call the cops on a kid who didn't know anything about $2s

[@anthonyminimum]

That’s not the reason why the two was discontinued in 1966. The reason why it was discontinued was simply because there was a lack of use for the bill

[@jester3186]

You can just ask for them at a bank tho

[@toonpik7]

Even rarer is the $50 bill. He didn't even mention it.

[@partyinthecloudkingdom]

my brother collects these, and we have a $2 bill that was printed on my birthday (year, month, and day!)

[@droolalot5795]

Just got $1000 in uncirculated sequential serial numbers $2 bills..... Getting another $1400 on Saturday

[@jenny-nm2vj]

I have tons of 2 dollar bills!!!! I get them on Lunar New Year!

[@Esburito]

You can order $2 bills from the bank. They're not that hard to get.

[@Liscome]

They charge a 15% fee and you have to buy at least 2K worth.

[@plumduckling5839]

THOMAS JEFFERSON IS COMMING HOME HES BEEN IN PAIR FOR SO LONG!!!!

[@JoJo-tm6ty]

“Go ahead use a 2 dollar bill” What if im scottish

[@adtdadtd3769]

Or Canadian

[@kissmyCASSIDYxo]

I have a bunch of these! Never thought to use them, though. hahah

[@btsvkook2174]

In my family every one has a two dollar bills and the reason we all have it is because my mom and my dad says that it gives u good luck so I have the two dollar bill in a box that I but important things😊❤️

[@titavaughns7698]

Ahaha! Like I'd ever give my two dollar bill away. I've only encountered one in all my 18 years of life. But Cheers to the people that try to keep it circulating

[@IkeTurner2.0]

America is good , without the $2 bill there will be no hope for recovery.....

[@deborahanth3672]

My brother said his friend wanted to buy ice cream at school and used his only 2 dollar bill!!!

[@CAGRN1]

I used a 2 dollar bill today and the kid at the counter didn't believe it was real. LOL The poor soul had to ask for a manager.

[@FinalDraftEFN]

I've been collecting US currency for 20 years and this is the first time I've ever heard of a $2 Bill being called a "Tom." I think "deuce" sounds classier :D

[@tonylouros5290]

I have about 20 cousins and whenever we all are together with our grandfather he passes out fresh crisp $2 bills that he gets in a stack from the bank

[@aerris3466]

I have one of the first printings of the two dollar bill it was made in 1963