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Facts About $2 Notes
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  • The first $2 notes (called United States Notes or "Legal Tenders") were issued by the Federal Government in 1862 and featured a portrait of the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton (1789-1795).

  • The first use of Thomas Jefferson's portrait on $2 notes was on Series 1869 United States Notes. The same portrait has been used for all series of $2 United States Notes as well as for all $2 Federal Reserve Notes.

  • Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's estate in Virginia, was first featured as the vignette on the back of the Series 1928 $2 United States Note.

  • In celebration of the United States' bicentennial, a $2 Federal Reserve Note, Series 1976, was introduced. The new design maintained the portrait of Jefferson on the face but the back was changed from Monticello to a vignette of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The most recent printing of the $2 note has the Series 2003 date. There are no plans to redesign the $2 note.

  • Vignette on the Back of the Current $2 Federal Reserve Note
    The $2 Federal Reserve Note features an engraving of John Trumbull's painting "The Signing of the Declaration of Independence." The original Trumbull painting portrayed 47 people, 42 of whom were signers of the Declaration (there were 56 total). However, because of a limited amount of space on the note, 5 of 47 men in the painting were not included in the engraving.
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blank blank blank Related Topics:
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African Americans on Currency
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Autos on the Back of $10 Notes
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Bureau History
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Counterfeiting Laws
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Defacement of Currency
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Facts About $1 Notes
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Facts About $100 Notes
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Facts About $2 Notes
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Facts About Dollar Bills
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Facts About Founding Fathers on Federal Reserve Notes
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Fun Facts
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In God We Trust
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Ink Used to Print Currency
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Intaglio Printing
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Legal Tender: A Definition
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Origin of the $ Sign
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Other Facts About Portraits
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Riegle Improvement Act
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Reproduction of Currency
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Selection of Portraits and Designs Appearing on Paper Currency
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Series Year and Federal Reserve Bank Indicators
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The Great Seal of the United States on Paper Currency
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The Production Process
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Vignette on the Reverse of the $5 Note
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Web Press
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