page_title: United States two-dollar bill
section_title: Large-sized notes
hierarchical_section_title: United States two-dollar bill / History / Large-sized notes
caption_attribution_description: English: $2 Silver Certificate, Series 1891 (Fr. Ref#246), depicting William Windom. Engraved signatures of Tillman (Register of the Treasury) and Morgan (Treasurer of the United States).
context_page_description: The United States two-dollar bill is a current denomination of U.S. currency. A portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, is featured on the obverse of the note. The reverse features an engraving of the painting Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull.
  Throughout the $2 bill's pre-1929 life as a large-sized note, it was issued as a United States Note, National Bank Note, silver certificate, Treasury or "Coin" Note and Federal Reserve Bank Note. When U.S. currency was changed to its current size, the $2 bill was issued only as a United States Note. Production continued until 1966, when United States Notes were phased out and the $2 denomination discontinued until 1976 when it was reissued as a Federal Reserve Note with a new reverse design.
  As a result of banking policies with businesses which have resulted in low production numbers due to lack of use, two-dollar bills do not circulate as well as other denominations of U.S. currency.
context_section_description: In March 1862, the first $2 bill was issued as a Legal Tender Note (United States Note) with a portrait of Alexander Hamilton; the portrait of Hamilton used was a profile view, different from the familiar portrait in use on the small-sized $10 bill since 1928.
  By 1869, the $2 United States Note was redesigned with the now-familiar portrait of Thomas Jefferson to the left and a vignette of the United States Capitol in the center of the obverse. This note also featured green tinting on the top and left side of the obverse. Although this note is technically a United States Note, TREASURY NOTE appeared on it instead of UNITED STATES NOTE. The reverse was completely redesigned. This series was again revised in 1874; changes on the obverse included removing the green tinting, adding a red floral design around WASHINGTON D.C., and changing the term TREASURY NOTE to UNITED STATES NOTE. The 1874 design was also issued as Series of 1875 and 1878, and by 1880, the red floral design around WASHINGTON D.C. on the United States Note was removed and the serial numbers were changed to blue. This note with the red floral design was also issued as Series of 1917 but with red serial numbers by that time.
  
  National Bank Notes were issued in 1875 and feature a woman unfurling a flag and a large sideways '2' ("Lazy Duce") on the obverse. The reverse has the king of England smoking tobacco and an eagle with a shield.
  In 1886, the first $2 silver certificate with a portrait of United States Civil War General Winfield Scott Hancock on the left of the obverse was issued. This design continued until 1891 when a new $2 Silver Certificate was issued with a portrait of U.S. Treasury Secretary William Windom in the center of the obverse.
  Two-dollar Treasury, or "Coin", Notes were first issued for government purchases of silver bullion in 1890 from the silver mining industry. The reverse featured large wording of TWO in the center and a numeral 2 to the right surrounded by an ornate design that occupied almost the entire note. In 1891, the reverse of the Series of 1890 Treasury Note was redesigned because the treasury felt that it was too "busy", making it too easy to counterfeit. More open space was incorporated into the new design.
  In 1896, the "Educational Series" Silver Certificate was issued. The entire obverse of the note was covered in artwork with an allegorical figure of science presenting steam and electricity to commerce and manufacture. The reverse of the note featured portraits of Robert Fulton and Samuel F. B. Morse surrounded by an ornate design that occupied almost the entire note.
  By 1899, however, The $2 Silver Certificate was redesigned with a small portrait of George Washington surrounded by allegorical figures representing agriculture and mechanics.
  Large-sized Federal Reserve Bank Notes were issued in 1918. Each note was an obligation of the issuing Federal Reserve Bank and could only be redeemed at the corresponding bank. The obverse of the note featured a borderless portrait of Thomas Jefferson to left and wording in the entire center. The reverse featured a World War I battleship.
caption: The second two-dollar denomination in the silver certificate series printed in 1891. This note features United States Secretary of the Treasury William Windom.
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