The U.S. Mint does not make $2 bills and never has. The Mint produces only coins. Paper currency, including the $2 bill, is printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and that agency still prints $2 notes, though not every year. For 2026, the Federal Reserve’s print order includes zero $2 bills. Orders in 2024 and 2025 each called for a limited run in the hundreds of thousands.
Why the Mint Doesn’t Print Any Bills
The U.S. Mint is the country’s sole manufacturer of circulating coins: pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollar coins.1United States Mint. About the United States Mint It has no role in paper money. Federal law puts responsibility for engraving and printing U.S. currency with the Secretary of the Treasury, a job carried out by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 31 USC 5114 – Engraving and Printing Currency and Security Documents The BEP runs two production plants, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Fort Worth, Texas.3Bureau of Engraving & Printing. Visitor Centers Every denomination from the $1 to the $100 comes off presses at one of those two facilities.
So if the question is whether the Mint still makes $2 bills, the answer is no in the sense that it never did. The right question is whether the BEP still prints them.
Are $2 Bills Still Being Printed?
Yes, but only in some years. The most recent $2 notes carry the Series 2017A designation, and the BEP has stated there are no plans to redesign the note.4Bureau of Engraving & Printing. $2 Note Each calendar year, the Federal Reserve Board sets a new print order based on projected demand and how many worn notes need replacing.5Federal Reserve Board. Currency Print Orders
Recent orders for the $2 note look like this:
- 2024: roughly 211,200 to 256,000 notes.6Federal Reserve Board. 2025 Federal Reserve Note Print Order
- 2025: roughly 307,200 to 416,000 notes.
- 2026: zero.7Federal Reserve. 2026 Federal Reserve Note Print Order
The denomination is still active. It just shows up on the production schedule only when Federal Reserve inventory runs low.
Why Production Is So Sporadic
Most new bills are printed to replace worn-out ones. The Federal Reserve estimates that over 70 percent of each year’s print order goes toward replacing notes pulled from circulation for quality reasons.8U.S. Currency Education Program. Life Cycle of a Federal Reserve Note A $1 bill lasts about 7.2 years in circulation. A $20 lasts about 11 years. The Fed does not even publish a lifespan estimate for the $2 note because it circulates so infrequently that wear is negligible.9Federal Reserve. How Long Is the Lifespan of U.S. Paper Money?
People tend to save $2 bills rather than spend them. That keeps existing notes in good shape and cuts the need for replacements, which is why the production cycle looks patchy compared to workhorse denominations like the $20.
How Many $2 Bills Exist
As of December 31, 2024, about 1.7 billion $2 notes were in circulation, with a combined face value of roughly $3.4 billion.10U.S. Currency Education Program. U.S. Currency in Circulation That count has climbed steadily from 0.6 billion notes in 1997. For comparison, about 14.4 billion $1 notes and 13.1 billion $100 notes were in circulation at the same date.
The $2 bill is the least common denomination in raw note count. It is not rare. A note supply measured in billions is uncommon, not scarce, and a typical $2 bill from your wallet is worth $2.
Are They Legal Tender?
Yes. Federal law declares all U.S. coins and currency, including $2 bills, to be legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 31 USC 5103 – Legal Tender That phrase is often misread. It means the government recognizes these notes as a valid way to settle a debt. It does not mean every store has to accept your cash.
No federal law requires a private business to take cash. A coffee shop can post a card-only sign and a gas station can refuse a $2 bill without breaking any federal rule. Some states and cities have passed their own cash-acceptance laws, but that is a local patchwork, not a national mandate.
How to Get a $2 Bill
The easiest route is to walk into your bank or credit union and ask a teller. Most branches do not keep $2 bills in their standard cash drawers because everyday demand is low, but they can usually pull them from the vault or order them through their next Federal Reserve cash shipment. The order might take a few business days, and there is generally no extra fee for an account holder requesting a specific denomination.
If you want them in quantity, for gifts or tipping, call ahead. Ask the branch to set aside a strap of 100 notes, worth $200, when their next Federal Reserve delivery arrives. Credit unions tend to be especially accommodating with these requests.