The Nefarious Past of the Two-Dollar Bill

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  • čas přidán 1. 12. 2015
  • 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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Komentáře • 858

  • @BrandonE927
    @BrandonE927 Před 7 lety +431

    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.

    • @azkanify
      @azkanify Před 7 lety +4

      unfortunately not for vending machine lol

    • @nivroxa7766
      @nivroxa7766 Před 6 lety +1

      True

    • @firepower7017
      @firepower7017 Před 6 lety +1

      Hype Nivro At the Casinos it is very very very very very common to see $2 bills

    • @dontask7842
      @dontask7842 Před 6 lety

      Brandon Escobedo use a one or 2

    • @GIJew
      @GIJew Před 5 lety +3

      @@azkanify It's funny because vending machines have the ability to read $2 bills. The vendor usually disables it though...

  • @jaipoh
    @jaipoh Před 8 lety +747

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

    • @PeterMetzger
      @PeterMetzger Před 8 lety +61

      +jpaulie assuming there are 200 dollars in your account to withdraw, yes. Some smaller banks only keep a few on hand so they may need to order them in for you but sooner or later you can get them, no problem.

    • @melinuxfool
      @melinuxfool Před 8 lety +10

      +jpaulie I have done so many times.

    • @misaelortega653
      @misaelortega653 Před 7 lety +3

      JP yea I've gotten 2 of them at the tcf bank

    • @LiezerZero
      @LiezerZero Před 7 lety +4

      So... its one year later.. How many of my cousins do you have in your wallet?

    • @bigallan7181
      @bigallan7181 Před 7 lety +3

      LOL, I HAVE 0 of your cousins.... I'm poor...

  • @Whatshappening2024
    @Whatshappening2024 Před 8 lety +1270

    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

    • @juliezaremskiy3635
      @juliezaremskiy3635 Před 7 lety +36

      I wanna try using a tom now lol!

    • @beatrix1120
      @beatrix1120 Před 7 lety +14

      This seems really wired to me, coming from a country where $2.00 is common lol

    • @ThomasBob
      @ThomasBob Před 7 lety +20

      I bought ice cream with a $2 bill, the guy took it without question.
      (lol sorry I'm a year later to respond)

    • @duck-qg7vb
      @duck-qg7vb Před 7 lety +18

      Jinzo So the manager called the cops for using an uncommon dollar?

    • @LiezerZero
      @LiezerZero Před 7 lety +8

      Yea, my cousin is a little weird for some people.

  • @Creationsbyelder
    @Creationsbyelder Před 7 lety +404

    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.

    • @pippincovington1348
      @pippincovington1348 Před 7 lety +6

      Greg Dinert said the youtube commenter. he leaned back in his chair, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
      "I really told that old man," he thought, "he'll think twice before brightening someone's day again! I dont know what people would do without me."

    • @Creationsbyelder
      @Creationsbyelder Před 7 lety +2

      LOL

    • @Creationsbyelder
      @Creationsbyelder Před 7 lety +2

      @Greg Dinert You got me figured out, yup!!!

    • @njw387
      @njw387 Před 7 lety +9

      this is a pure comment

  • @realgenuinemakour
    @realgenuinemakour Před 7 lety +701

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

    • @goldenbeardofficial8541
      @goldenbeardofficial8541 Před 6 lety +25

      Riley Graham cause she's an illegal mexican

    • @elijared1162
      @elijared1162 Před 6 lety +4

      Happened to me at a Sams

    • @joyfulsquishies2698
      @joyfulsquishies2698 Před 6 lety +3

      Riley Graham happened to my dad when we got lunch. But it was with a hundo

    • @d00mboy13
      @d00mboy13 Před 3 lety +1

      Thats why they work at wendys. There fucking stupid.

    • @Dyl_Apple
      @Dyl_Apple Před 2 lety +5

      There was a whole big news story about how a school lunch lady called the cops on a kid for trying to spend a two dollar bill and I think the cop even called her stupid and said something like “lady if he was going to make a counterfeit bill why the hell would he counterfeit a two dollar bill?”

  • @Marichii1
    @Marichii1 Před 7 lety +162

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

    • @ashyy6819
      @ashyy6819 Před 6 lety +1

      Does She Ever Get Any?

    • @firepower7017
      @firepower7017 Před 6 lety +2

      That One Guy Trust me it is better to have none because one day I was broke and I had to resort to using $2 bills and a cashier rejected me for using a rare type of currency so I went hungry heck I almost went crazy so in all honesty waste any $2 bills they aren't rare just uncommon and mistaken for rare till it ain't acceptable

    • @hammythesyrianhamster7300
      @hammythesyrianhamster7300 Před 5 lety

      Marichii just ask the bank

    • @dilainimendez2121
      @dilainimendez2121 Před 4 lety

      Marichii I just went to the store right now and my mom told me to get a dollor I didn’t notice it was a 2 dollar bill and the guy told me to give it to him that it was fine and I’m scared now cause what if my mom wanted that for memories or something

  • @aaronscarpa7469
    @aaronscarpa7469 Před 6 lety +44

    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...

    • @asheep7797
      @asheep7797 Před rokem +3

      Surprised you only had 2's, 50's, and 100's.

    • @swaggin1716
      @swaggin1716 Před rokem +2

      Who’s counterfeiting $2 bills lmao

  • @weirdspongeguy
    @weirdspongeguy Před 6 lety +100

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

  • @daviddrivez9978
    @daviddrivez9978 Před 7 lety +16

    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.

  • @charlesyoung9980
    @charlesyoung9980 Před 6 lety +19

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

  • @Luke-hq5zd
    @Luke-hq5zd Před 5 lety +21

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

  • @scotth8146
    @scotth8146 Před 8 lety +23

    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.

  • @noelle6829
    @noelle6829 Před 7 lety +47

    *cue Alexander Hamilton laughing*

  • @drywalleater13628
    @drywalleater13628 Před 3 lety +5

    "go ahead, use a tom"
    uhm sir I don't think that's how humans work

  • @tentacletiddies
    @tentacletiddies Před 7 lety +9

    i went to the pharmacy to buy some cough drops and my mom didn't have enough change on her for the 2.00 dollars so she was like "Should we use the 2?" and my mom was like "they dont usually make them anymore and they're rare" so i gave it to the guy there and a woman too, they both were like "Wow it's a two, pretty rare" it was kind of sad letting it go tho

  • @who7435
    @who7435 Před 6 lety +18

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

  • @ahab9694
    @ahab9694 Před 6 lety +15

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

  • @scribble71891
    @scribble71891 Před 7 lety +2

    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.

  • @Danny_Does_Drawings
    @Danny_Does_Drawings Před 6 lety +2

    I have a couple of these in mint condition that I keep. Along with my shiny 1927 wheaties.

  • @tennisdude52278
    @tennisdude52278 Před 6 lety +7

    Two dollar bills are awesome. When something is $4 you can pay with two bills instead of 4. Also would be nice if vending machines accepted them so you could pay with one bill for things that are $1.50.

  • @ThomasFarquhar2
    @ThomasFarquhar2 Před 5 lety +6

    We have £50 notes in the UK
    Legend has it that only the rich have seen them
    And the literal money makers

  • @lemonwedge
    @lemonwedge Před 4 lety +3

    I was gonna buy some chips and pay with a $2 bill and the cashier said get out or he will call the police

  • @ankylopea
    @ankylopea Před 4 lety +3

    U.S.S. Grant on the 50 dollar bill:
    *Am I a joke?*

  • @renarts2211
    @renarts2211 Před 6 lety +18

    *I have a 2 dollar bill in my wallet*
    I DONT EVEN LIVE IN AMERICA I LIVE IN EUROPE

  • @jackmccallum335
    @jackmccallum335 Před 6 lety +1

    I had someone pay in a $2 bill once and our cash out procedure didn’t even have the bill as an option

  • @CFM2
    @CFM2 Před 4 lety +3

    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

  • @bucurionutrusu3260
    @bucurionutrusu3260 Před 7 lety +345

    Casey Neistat 2$ Bill Ambasador

  • @jacobriddle7230
    @jacobriddle7230 Před 7 lety +8

    I always carry twos more often then not I get something that is two dollars rather than one it saves space

  • @MasterGXD
    @MasterGXD Před 7 lety +1

    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

  • @tictacmaybeau6707
    @tictacmaybeau6707 Před 5 lety +3

    I honestly never knew they were special until my friends saw me carrying around only 2 dollar bills a few years ago. My family only ever paid me in them so I never really thought much of it tbh

  • @rospie4062
    @rospie4062 Před 5 lety +1

    My country, Bulgaria, used a bill for 2 levs(which is approximately 1 euro) but recently switched to coin for it

  • @tammybarton6308
    @tammybarton6308 Před 8 lety +208

    you forgot the 5 dollar bill you 1 10 20 50 100

    • @LiezerZero
      @LiezerZero Před 7 lety +32

      And you forgot my cousin.. the $2 dollar bill.

    • @Josh-jb5cd
      @Josh-jb5cd Před 6 lety +6

      He forgot 50..

    • @savagedude9689
      @savagedude9689 Před 5 lety

      2s, 5s, 50s, 500s, 1,000s, 10,000s, 100,000s

  • @limeyfigdet7460
    @limeyfigdet7460 Před 6 lety +1

    These would be perfect for my trips to the dollar store, and other small purchases.

  • @RetroHabit82
    @RetroHabit82 Před 6 lety +1

    I always hold onto $2 bills dated 1995 or earlier, especially a red seal note.

  • @jynflyn1679
    @jynflyn1679 Před 6 lety +2

    I remember having that when I was little and I thought i just imagined it like that

  • @Fr0mDark2Light
    @Fr0mDark2Light Před 6 lety

    great for tips at the bar

  • @jeffreylewis4097
    @jeffreylewis4097 Před 6 lety +3

    I have always carried the same two-dollar bill with me for six years, and I've taken it across the world :) its my lucky two!

  • @yinan02
    @yinan02 Před 7 lety

    There is a movie theater by my home which uses only $2 bills for change.

  • @sophisticated_1614
    @sophisticated_1614 Před 6 lety

    I have all these old bills tucked away somewhere in my house don't remember where

  • @jordansunderman5348
    @jordansunderman5348 Před 4 lety +2

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

  • @nativepancake2439
    @nativepancake2439 Před 8 lety

    i found a $2 bill on the ground should i spend it our keep it?

  • @rustyshackelford3371
    @rustyshackelford3371 Před 3 lety +1

    I paid with a $2 United States Note (not a Federal Reserve Note). Had more of a red coloring, and a different picture on the back, if I remember right. Cashier used the pen on it and shrugged her shoulders. I go to that store all the time, so they were cool. Btw, a coin dealer had offered $2.50 for the bill. I was so disgusted with the low premium I decided to just spend it somewhere. I also spent Eisenhower dollar coins all over town. Better to get those out there, maybe spark an interest in someone about the history of our money, than to get a low premium over face value. I did sell my gold certificates, oh but I did spend a couple of $5 silver certificates. Transactions went smoothly

  • @santoryu3077
    @santoryu3077 Před 5 lety

    I'm quite happy that in SG we still have a $2 bill but no longer a $1 note and that we have to use $1 coins

  • @josuevegaj23
    @josuevegaj23 Před 7 lety +34

    I had a $2 bill but I gave it to a homeless person. They needed it more than me :)

    • @carolynmmitchell2240
      @carolynmmitchell2240 Před 6 lety +2

      IDK IF I'M A MEXICAN POTATO OR AN AMERICAN POTATO why can't you be an Idaho potato

    • @dylanmcguire2090
      @dylanmcguire2090 Před 6 lety +1

      One act of kindness is a start to a new you.

    • @hidethesaucex3978
      @hidethesaucex3978 Před 6 lety +5

      Don't give money to the homeless on the streets, they are mostly druggies and that's why they don't go to shelters. Shelters won't give them drug money.

  • @hectorcorrea4295
    @hectorcorrea4295 Před 4 lety

    Got a 100 dollar bill with a star on the reverse side top left side does any one knows if it's worth anything

  • @berthagarcia7221
    @berthagarcia7221 Před 3 lety +1

    My grate grandmother got me one for my birthday and also got one for my brother and I have 0 idea of wtf to do with it.

  • @kissmyCASSIDYxo
    @kissmyCASSIDYxo Před 8 lety +2

    I have a bunch of these! Never thought to use them, though. hahah

  • @icaruspyrrhos
    @icaruspyrrhos Před 7 lety +6

    I have like 20 of these fuckers that i keep as a relic.

  • @dellanino8216
    @dellanino8216 Před 7 lety +28

    Who else has one

  • @shelyndelgado
    @shelyndelgado Před 7 lety

    can u make more video about two dollar bill

  • @rockstaraz6576
    @rockstaraz6576 Před 8 lety +3

    I'm a 2 Dollar Ambassador ! Everyday I get $200 Dollars worth & Spend it at Local businesses ! The 2 Dollar Bill Breaks the Ice like a hot knife threw Butter !

  • @chilidog2469
    @chilidog2469 Před 6 lety

    I have a few of them, and I didn't know they were still being printed

  • @kadensienko
    @kadensienko Před 6 lety +1

    l thought this was an ad for 2 dollar bills

  • @ralstonjoey6569
    @ralstonjoey6569 Před 6 lety

    How did they come up with the name tom?

  • @mingijobu2254
    @mingijobu2254 Před 6 lety

    but if i live in europe? what do i do?

  • @woxof46
    @woxof46 Před 6 lety

    I honestly thought $2 bills were fake... then I watched this video.
    Learn something new every day.

  • @jester3186
    @jester3186 Před 6 lety +2

    You can just ask for them at a bank tho

  • @catherinebee5532
    @catherinebee5532 Před 3 lety

    Great Big Story: next time spend a Tom
    Me who lives in Australia: wtf I cant

    • @user-yn5nv6nm3x
      @user-yn5nv6nm3x Před 2 lety

      ای خدا این همه پول یک خورده ما را کمک کنید پجه من مریض ای خدا چقدر به یک سری میدهی هرچه داشتم فروختم

  • @sullivannix4509
    @sullivannix4509 Před 6 lety

    I used to have one. I don't know where it went

  • @cristobalaguilar6876
    @cristobalaguilar6876 Před 7 lety

    My mom considers them good luck. She first got one the day she got her papers and still has it that was like 30 yrs ago

  • @toastyyy2458
    @toastyyy2458 Před 6 lety

    I clicked on this video and the ad was a Zimbabwean 1 trillion dollar bill breakdown of the design.

  • @pronintendo1984
    @pronintendo1984 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I only ever collect $2 bills if I get them from Series 1976 (the year they were reintroduced). After that they're just normal currency for me

  • @gunnersofhell8869
    @gunnersofhell8869 Před 7 lety

    the ad wss longer than the actual video

  • @dateddelvings1695
    @dateddelvings1695 Před 7 lety +1

    I keep one bill for myself but I do use any others I find. Because of its uniqueness, the $2 bill is my favorite :)

  • @LoydAvenheart
    @LoydAvenheart Před 6 lety

    I don't want the cops called on me every-time I go to buy a burger so I'll pass on *using a tom*.

  • @kitandevaproductions
    @kitandevaproductions Před 5 lety

    Before my grandma died, we were going around her room, cleaning up. (We didn’t know she wasn’t going to get better) and I found 2 two dollar bills, I will probably never be able to spend them

  • @MapleTreeProductions
    @MapleTreeProductions Před 6 lety

    Dang I see u with that VL Wallet Lol

  • @auadisian
    @auadisian Před 3 lety

    Once in a hotel in St. Louis, I pulled a $2 bill from my wallet by mistake... The receptionist got excited until I put it back and pulled a $5 instead!

  • @rectorman1
    @rectorman1 Před 8 lety

    I have one and that is the only one I have ever seen I really doubt over a billion are in circulation.

  • @raeyearnd3260
    @raeyearnd3260 Před 5 lety

    as a "gimmick" in the 70s,, we kept 2s in our restaurant register as we ran a lunch buffet that ended up a little less than 3.00 including drink,, so when people would pay with a 5 they would get a 2 in change

  • @aerris3466
    @aerris3466 Před 5 lety

    I have one of the first printings of the two dollar bill it was made in 1963

  • @justausername3741
    @justausername3741 Před 5 lety

    Sometimes when I cash my check I ask for 2s they look at me weird but I get stacks of em

  • @BugHwi
    @BugHwi Před rokem +1

    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.

  • @jailbreaker1214
    @jailbreaker1214 Před 8 lety

    i used to collect a bunch but i realized that 2 dollar bills arent rare so they really have no value in terms of collection.

  • @mrx-yj5wi
    @mrx-yj5wi Před 6 lety +1

    I'm Canadian, we had $2 bills, now we have $2 coins. Let me tell you $2 bills rule! A few $2 bills you're not broke and no one is hitting you up either, you can pay for stuff without breaking out big bills, nor worry about change.

  • @psychosorcerer9438
    @psychosorcerer9438 Před 2 lety

    As one of the aforementioned 2 dollar ambassadors, it brings joy to people's day.

  • @daphnerodriguez9980
    @daphnerodriguez9980 Před 2 lety +1

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

  • @batman2sexy
    @batman2sexy Před 5 lety

    I am trying to get back some those. I give away mine years ago but not seen them sense

  • @sekritdinos7221
    @sekritdinos7221 Před 7 lety

    I knew a girl in high school who would go to the bank and have her pay check cashed for $2 bills. They made sure to keep them in hand for her.

  • @porkypiggieboy
    @porkypiggieboy Před 6 lety

    What about 5 and 50 dollar bills?

  • @btsvkook2174
    @btsvkook2174 Před 6 lety

    In my family every one has a two dollar bills and the reason we all have it is because my mom and my dad says that it gives u good luck so I have the two dollar bill in a box that I but important things😊❤️

  • @partyinthecloudkingdom

    my brother collects these, and we have a $2 bill that was printed on my birthday (year, month, and day!)

  • @simonl758
    @simonl758 Před 7 lety

    Turn up the volume at 0:38

  • @howHumam
    @howHumam Před 6 lety

    Strip clubs love toms, that where I get mine... it's also strategic cuz those are the only places I know that have them so if you try to spend them somewhere they where you got them from:)

  • @FriedRice3519
    @FriedRice3519 Před 7 lety

    when I was little (like around 5 years ago) she gave me a $2 bill I still have it in my piggy bank I think but I have no idea of were she got it from

  • @ilw_
    @ilw_ Před 5 lety

    My dad got a 1928 or something like that 2 dollar bill from a convenience store

  • @jillstingray7848
    @jillstingray7848 Před 6 lety

    What about the Negative 12 dollar bill?

  • @MrAresxy07
    @MrAresxy07 Před 3 lety +1

    Up to thid day i haven't been able to get a $2 bill ever

  • @goosey6553
    @goosey6553 Před 5 lety

    Can’t believe there still getting printed

  • @MK-ex4pb
    @MK-ex4pb Před 6 lety

    I like spending them. I just wish stores and stuff gave them as change. I hate having to constantly go to the bank for them

  • @Immortal-Daiki
    @Immortal-Daiki Před 3 lety +1

    I think I’ve used toms only twice in my life. Once in Philly and once in NYC. That’s it

  • @purpleex174
    @purpleex174 Před 6 lety

    My dad's friend found one back in 2013 a $2 bill but he doesn't spend it he just keeps it

  • @Userjellyfish43
    @Userjellyfish43 Před 7 lety

    My grandpa gives me Toms as presents, but I never knew that I could actually use them

  • @natashal3337
    @natashal3337 Před 6 lety

    We used $2 notes in Singapore

  • @trueclan8769
    @trueclan8769 Před 7 lety

    You could go to the bank and ask them for change in two dollar bills

  • @diondefilippo5350
    @diondefilippo5350 Před 6 lety +1

    My friend had a 2 dollar in 2017 at school

  • @johan2870
    @johan2870 Před 4 lety

    I traveled to America with 4 of these notes without knowing anything haha

  • @donutpony1786
    @donutpony1786 Před 7 lety

    One time i had one and for some reason I used it in the vending machine I don't know why I did that ._.

  • @parka0m485
    @parka0m485 Před 5 lety

    In Australia the $2 coin is the 2nd smallest coin

  • @abramo7700
    @abramo7700 Před 6 lety

    My friend was putting in money for red envelopes and had like a lot of 2 dollar bills it’s so weird