Collectors call 1874 $2 bills lazy deuces. The nickname derives from the fact that the large two on the front of each bill is laying on its side. At some point someone said the term lazy deuce and it stuck. The two dollar national bank note was discontinued in 1878, so that leaves just a four year production period. Most 1874 two dollar bills are very scarce today. The most common examples in poor condition are worth around $1,000. Examples from rare banks or bills that are in perfect condition are worth and sell for several thousand dollars or more. Even if a bank was open in 1874 it didn’t necessarily print two dollar bills. There were plenty of dollar coins circulating in the 1870s, so a lot of national banks didn’t bother to print one and two dollar bills because the need was already being satisfied by coinage. Even if a bank did choose to print 1874 two dollar bills, they were still only printed at a rate of one two dollar bill for every three one dollar bill. Most banks that did print $2 bills almost always issued less than 10,000 examples over the entire life of the bank. You can see why some are so rare and valuable today.
Remember that Series of 1875 can also printed on $2 bills in addition to the 1874 charter date. These notes can have a red seal that is spiked or rounded. Each two dollar bill should have a red charter number stamped on its face. This numbering system began in 1872 and was active while these were being printed in 1874 and didn’t stop until the end of the national currency period.
We provide free appraisals for all national currency. Send us a picture of your bank note and we would be happy to tell you how much it is worth. We can also provide our buy and sell prices.
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The following national banks printed 1874 $2 bills:
- Charter 2158 – Farmers National Gold Bank of San Jose, California
- Charter 2158 – First National Bank of San Jose, California
- Charter 2193 – First National Gold Bank of Petaluma, California
- Charter 2193 – First National Bank of Petaluma, California
- Charter 2134 – Peoples National Bank of Pueblo, Colorado
- Charter 2140 – First National Bank of Golden, Colorado
- Charter 2179 – First National Bank of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Charter 2199 – Miners National Bank of Georgetown, Colorado
- Charter 2174 – First National Bank of Florida, Florida
- Charter 2141 – National Bank of Pontiac, Illinois
- Charter 2147 – Mattoon National Bank, Illinois
- Charter 2154 – First National Bank of Belleville, Illinois
- Charter 2155 – Peoples National Bank of Rock Island, Illinois
- Charter 2156 – First National Bank of Farmer City, Illinois
- Charter 2165 – Farmers National Bank of Princeton, Illinois
- Charter 2170 – First National Bank of Streator, Illinois
- Charter 2176 – Union National Bank of Streator, Illinois
- Charter 2204 – First National Bank of Arcola, Illinois
- Charter 2205 – Second National Bank of Monmouth, Illinois
- Charter 2212 – Oakland National Bank, Illinois
- Charter 2166 – Second National Bank of New Albany, Indiana
- Charter 2173 – National Bank of Salem, Indiana
- Charter 2178 – First National Bank of Spencer, Indiana
- Charter 2180 – Peoples National Bank of Princeton, Indiana
- Charter 2183 – First National Bank of Crown Point, Indiana
- Charter 2184 – First National Bank of Lagrange, Indiana
- Charter 2188 – Citizens National Bank of Evansville, Indiana
- Charter 2201 – First National Bank of Tell City, Indiana
- Charter 2202 – Bundy National Bank of New Castle, Indiana
- Charter 2207 – Boonville National Bank, Indiana
- Charter 2208 – First National Bank of Monticello, Indiana
- Charter 2213 – Lafayette National Bank, Indiana
- Charter 2177 – First National Bank of Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Charter 2182 – First National Bank of Lisbon, Iowa
- Charter 2187 – Peoples National Bank of Independence, Iowa
- Charter 2191 – First National Bank of Allerton, Iowa
- Charter 2197 – Farmers National Bank of Centerville, Iowa
- Charter 2192 – State National Bank of Topeka, Kansas
- Charter 2148 – Citizens National Bank of Winchester, Kentucky
- Charter 2149 – National Southern Kentucky Bank of Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Charter 2150 – Marion National Bank of Lebanon, Kentucky
- Charter 2161 – Merchants National Bank of Louisville, Kentucky
- Charter 2164 – Citizens National Bank of Louisville, Kentucky
- Charter 2164 – Citizens Union National Bank of Louisville, Kentucky
- Charter 2169 – Logan County National Bank of Russellville, Kentucky
- Charter 2171 – Third National Bank of Louisville, Kentucky
- Charter 2185 – Mount Sterling National Bank, Kentucky
- Charter 2190 – Anderson County National Bank of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
- Charter 2196 – National Bank of New Castle, Kentucky
- Charter 2206 – Caverna National Bank, Kentucky
- Charter 2209 – National Bank of Union County, Kentucky
- Charter 2175 – First National Bank of Fairfield, Maine
- Charter 2152 – Home National Bank of Brockton, Massachusetts
- Charter 2153 – Safety Fund National Bank of Fitchburg, Massachusetts
- Charter 2172 – Athol National Bank, Massachusetts
- Charter 2143 – First National Bank of Hancock, Michigan
- Charter 2145 – Second National Bank of Bay City, Michigan
- Charter 2162 – First National Bank of Leslie, Michigan
- Charter 2186 – Citizens National Bank of Romeo, Michigan
- Charter 2211 – Farmers National Bank of Constantine, Michigan
- Charter 2214 – First National Bank of Mount Clemens, Michigan
- Charter 2159 – First National Bank of Kasson, Minnesota
- Charter 2138 – Rochester National Bank, New Hampshire
- Charter 2136 – Merchants National Bank of Binghamton, New York
- Charter 2151 – Wilber National Bank of Oneonta, New York
- Charter 2135 – Commercial National Bank of Charlotte, North Carolina
- Charter 2146 – First National Bank of East Liverpool, Ohio
- Charter 2160 – National Exchange Bank of Steubenville, Ohio
- Charter 2160 – National Exchange Bank & Trust Company of Steubenville, Ohio
- Charter 2181 – Centreville National Bank of Thurman, Ohio
- Charter 2203 – First National Bank of New Lisbon, Ohio
- Charter 2210 – First National Bank of Middleport, Ohio
- Charter 2137 – National Bank of Boyertown, Pennsylvania
- Charter 2137 – National Bank & Trust Company of Boyertown, Pennsylvania
- Charter 2139 – City National Bank of Williamsport, Pennsylvania
- Charter 2142 – National Bank of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
- Charter 2142 – National Bank & Trust Company of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
- Charter 2195 – City National Bank of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Charter 2167 – First National Bank of Bristol, Tennessee
- Charter 2168 – First National Bank of Jackson, Tennessee
- Charter 2198 – National Bank of Shelbyville, Tennessee
- Charter 2200 – Mechanics National Bank of Nashville, Tennessee
- Charter 2157 – First National Bank of Dallas, Texas
- Charter 2189 – Waco National Bank, Texas
- Charter 2189 – First National Bank of Waco, Texas
- Charter 2144 – Peoples National Bank of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Charter 2132 – Kellogg National Bank of Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Charter 2132 – Kellogg-Citizens National Bank of Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Charter 2133 – First National Bank of Depere, Wisconsin
- Charter 2163 – First National Bank of Beloit, Wisconsin