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.

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[BrandonE]

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.

[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.

[jaipoh]

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

[Whatshappening]

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

[RedRaiderLobo]

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...

[realgenuinemakour]

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

[Marichii]

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

[daviddrivez]

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.

[weirdspongeguy]

Differences between UK and US

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

[charlesyoung]

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

[jordansunderman]

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

[scotth]

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.

[Luke-hqzd]

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

[scribble]

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.

[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

[who]

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

[ahab]

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

[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.

[daphnerodriguez]

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

[CFM]

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