1953 $2 Dollar Bill Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?

Are you curious about the 1953 $2 dollar bill value? This rather special US dollar is often considered rare in circulation, adding up to the fascination of many collectors. It is a legal tender note that features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson. Likewise, these are smaller in size, measuring only 15.6 mm by 6.6 cm.

And if you’re interested to know more about this dollar bill, you’re on the right page! Continue reading and unravel all the core details about this monetary piece. These include the main varieties as well as the errors associated with this note.

1953 $2 Dollar Bill Value Chart
Series	Circulated	Uncirculated	Bills with a star
1953 $2 Dollar Bill Value	$9	$30	$15 to $90
1953 A $2 Dollar Bill Value	$9	$20	$22 to $80
1953 B $2 Dollar Bill Value	$9	$22	$18 to $75
1953 C $2 Dollar Bill Value	$9	$20	$18 to $90

1953 $2 Dollar Bill

The 1953 $2 Dollar Bill is actually a legal tender note that was first printed in 1775, in the midst of the American Revolutionary War. It was then approved for circulation by 1862.

One of the key features of the 1953 $2 Dollar Bill is the red seal, which is associated with the government’s usage of funds. In the past, legal tender notes come with gold and silver certificates that were exchangeable. Comparatively, certificates with redeemable value usually had a blue seal.

In contrast, 1953 $2 Dollar Bills have a red seal to indicate their main usage, and that is to raise funds. The particular seal type was used by the government during the Civil War. Hence, these dollar bills with red seals were considered government loans and do not have a certain redeemable amount.

However, since these are generally legal tender, it means that they can be used for purchases. Unfortunately, 1953 $2 Dollar Bills are quite rare, with only 79.9 million pieces in circulation. Aside from this, there were around 4 million bills with a star in the serial number.

Similar to most American notes, a 1953 $2 Dollar has distinct features that make it unique. The front side highlights the image of Thomas Jefferson, who was the third president of the United States. On the right section of the portrait is the red seal as well as the secretary’s signature.

Meanwhile, the left side of the image engraves the words “THIS NOTE IS A LEGAL TENDER AS ITS FACE VALUE FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.” You’d also see the signature of the treasurer right below the serial number.

Other inscriptions on the obverse side are “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND TWO DOLLARS.” The serial numbers can be found on both the left and right sides, together with the “2” and “TWO DOLLARS” labels.

The reserve side accentuated the Monticello, which served as the home of Jefferson. It also has the exact word “MONTICELLO,” along with other writings like “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “TWO DOLLARS” on both sides.

As to the valuation of these bills, circulated pieces are estimated to be around $9 while uncirculated ones can reach up to $30. Conversely, notes with a star mark range between $15 to $90. It’s also pivotal to know that aside from the standard 1953 $2 Dollar Bill, there are other series associated with this note.

Each series has a corresponding combination of signatures―one from the treasury secretary and one from the treasurer. For 1953 $2 Dollar Bill, the signatories were George Magoffin Humphrey and Baker Priest.

Another distinguishing factor of these notes was the production period, which occurred from May 1953 to August 1957. Accordingly, the subsequent series have different production years yet are still part of the 1953 $2 dollar bill category.

1953 A $2 Dollar Bill

The next part of the series is the 1953 A $2 Dollar Bill, which referred to notes that were created within the period of February 1958 to September 1960. If you check the front side of the bill, you’d see this mark on the right, especially in between the image of Jefferson and the signature of the treasury secretary.

Unlike the first series that only engraved “SERIES 1953”, this one specifically indicates “SERIES 1953 A”. Likewise, the signatories for this collection were Treasury Secretary Robert Bernard Anderson and Treasurer Ivy Baker Priest.

When it comes to the design, there weren’t significant changes. The same obverse and reversed features were followed.

On the other hand, the value of these bills varies accordingly. Circulated ones are appraised to be around $9 while uncirculated ones would sell for as much as $20. Bills with a star are valued from $22 to $80.

1953 B $2 Dollar Bill

Notes produced from September 1961 up to July 1962 are already considered as 1953 B $2 Dollar Bills. The treasury secretary during this period was Clarence Douglas Dillon while the treasurer was Elizabeth Rudel Smith.

To differentiate these bills from the previous series, these come with the “SERIES 1953 B” on the front side. So, be sure to check this mark carefully since each series has different valuations. Likewise, the value of 1953 B $2 Dollar Bills ranges from $9 to $75.

1953 C $2 Dollar Bill

Lastly, we have the 1953 C $2 Dollar Bill, which was the last series that was manufactured just a few months after the previous one. To be exact, these notes were created from October to November 1963. This means that it covers two months of production.

During this time, the same treasury secretary signed the bill―Clarence Douglas Dillon. Meanwhile, there was a modification in the treasurer and was replaced with Kathryn Elizabeth Granahan. This series had the same designs as the older versions.

Accordingly, after the 1953 C $2 Dollar Bill series, there were major changes in the design. This was highly evident during the release of the Series 1963, with the incorporation of the wordings “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the reverse side of the notes.

On top of that, there were alterations made on the obverse side. The markings “WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND” was taken away. Additionally, during the subsequent years, silver certificates no longer have redeemable silver coins. Then in 1966, both $2 and $5 denominations were officially stopped.

Although the 1953 C $2 Dollar Bill series were already discontinued, this remains as legal tender.  Yet even with its authenticity, many electronic cash registers and vending machines do not acknowledge these banknotes. Hence, you might have a hard time using these for daily purchases.

But among coin collectors, these are still valuable. A circulated piece would sell for around $9 while an uncirculated note for as much as $20.

1953 $2 Dollar Bill Grading

When evaluating the worth of a 1953 $2 Dollar Bill, the condition of the bill serves as one of the determining factors. And since these bills contain serial numbers, the grading of the notes also takes into account the uniqueness of the serial number. Bills with unique combinations are pricier.

Aside from that, errors during production impact the value of the tender notes. As a general rule, the errors help in increasing the worth of the notes. Uncirculated banknotes in great condition can be sold from $15 up to $30, depending on a series of elements.

Rare 1953 $2 Dollar Bill Error Lists

Surprisingly, there were only a few errors during the creation of the 1953 $2 Dollar Bill. The reason for such is because of the limited production as well as the restricted process during the minting of the notes. Hence, flaws with this particular bill may be scarce.

Below are some of the possible errors associated with the 1953 $2 Dollar Bill that you need to know thoroughly. This way, you can easily distinguish them from standard bills. And of course, bills and banknotes with unique flaws are more attractive and more expensive.

1. 1953 $2 Dollar Bill Misprinted Serial Numbers

Although finding a misprinted bill is a rare feat, this could still happen. These errors are generally associated with serial numbers. Some may be incorrect while others have askew positioning. There could also be those improperly printed due to die issues.

Usually, misprinted serial numbers sell well during auctions. And since 1953 $2 Dollar Bill is already considered rare, and having those significant errors make it highly collectible. But of course, the condition of the notes should be close to perfect condition for them to be valuable.

2. 1953 $2 Dollar Bill Misaligned Red Seal

There were also some reported bills that have errors in the alignment of the red seal. As mentioned earlier, the red seal is stationed on the right side of the bill, below the serial number. So, if you see the red seal that is not symmetrical to the serial number, this could be a production error.

And because of the mistake, it makes the bill inimitable, adding up to its normal price. More so, the more off-center the red seal is, the more valuable it becomes. Thus, if you come across this kind of bill, make sure to have it checked by the experts.

3. 1953 $2 Dollar Bill Cutting Error

The cutting error gives emphasis to the difference in sizes of the bill’s edges. If you look closely, a 1953 $2 Dollar Bill with this kind of error has one edge that is a bit wider than the other. Because of this particular flaw, makes the design of the bill not in perfect alignment.

4. 1953 $2 Dollar Bill Off-center

Another error during the production was related to the placement of the design. One key reference is the portrait of Thomas Jefferson, which is slightly far off from the center. Just like the general notion of every bill or coin error, this improves the current value of the dollar bill.

Accordingly, notes with a high percent off-center are considered to be more in demand among collectors. And if there’s a significant demand for these bills, the price relatively goes up. Therefore, you need to be thorough if you have this piece in your collection because this could be valuable.

1953 $2 Dollar Bill FAQ

1. How much is a 1953 $2 dollar bill worth?

The worth of the 1953 $2 Dollar Bill largely depends on the series and the condition of the notes. But in general, a circulated 2-dollar bill in average condition is estimated to be around $2.50.

Circulated bills in an excellent state may even sell for up to $9. And for uncirculated ones, are very popular among dealers, hence being valued between $15 to $90.

2. How can you tell if a 1953 $2 dollar bill is real?

Since 1953 $2 dollar bills are quite unusual and not widely circulated, so checking their authenticity might be a challenging feat. One key element to help you determine whether the bill is real or not is to check the serial number.

In general, these notes should have eight numbers along with two letters―one at the start and one at the end. Likewise, there are two specific letters that are excluded from the serial numbering. Z is not used since this is considered the testing letter while O is omitted to avoid confusion with zero.

There are also some bill notes that come with almost identical serial numbers, with only one different digit. Some also have a star, which is highly collectible because of its uniqueness. Aside from the serial numbers, you can also check the paper’s texture.

Authentic US bills make use of raised printing, so you can easily feel the texture when you touch the surface with your finger. So, if you’re a bit unsure, try this method to check its legitimacy.

3. What makes a 1953 $2 dollar bill rare?

Although 1953 $2 bills are generally unusual, these are not considered rare unless the bill has certain flaws and distinct features. For instance, many collectors are interested in notes that have the number 1 in the serial number. These could be 1, 100, or 1000.

Others also consider bills with partial or perfect ladders, either up or down, as highly collectible. On top of that, bills that have binary, flipper, or super radar numbers are considered distinct, hence the higher the value.

4. What is the most valuable 1953 $2 dollar bill?

According to experts, the rarest 1953 $2 dollar bills are those that were produced from 1953 to 1957. These are the initial series with no marks at all. An uncirculated bill from this category starts from $30 and could reach up to $90 or more.