The Nefarious Past of the Two-Dollar Bill

Подписаться 6 млн

Просмотров 1,7 млн

50% 1

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.
SUBSCRIBE: goo.gl/vR6Acb
Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: goo.gl/2KABeX
Make our acquaintance on Facebook: goo.gl/Vn0XIZ
Give us a shout on Twitter: goo.gl/sY1GLY
Visit our world directly: www.greatbigstory.com
Great Big Story is a video network dedicated to the untold, overlooked & flat-out amazing. Humans are capable of incredible things & we're here to tell their stories. When a rocket lands in your backyard, you get in.

Опубликовано:

1 дек 2015

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 858

@BrandonE927 7 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

unfortunately not for vending machine lol

@nivroxa7766 6 лет назад

True

@firepower7017 6 лет назад

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

@dontask7842 6 лет назад

Brandon Escobedo use a one or 2

@GIJew 5 лет назад

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

@jaipoh 8 лет назад

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

@PeterMetzger 8 лет назад

+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 8 лет назад

+jpaulie I have done so many times.

@misaelortega653 7 лет назад

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

@LiezerZero 7 лет назад

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

@bigallan7181 7 лет назад

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

@Whatshappening2024 8 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

I wanna try using a tom now lol!

@beatrix1120 7 лет назад

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

@ThomasBob 7 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

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

@LiezerZero 7 лет назад

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

@Creationsbyelder 7 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

LOL

@Creationsbyelder 7 лет назад

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

@njw387 7 лет назад

this is a pure comment

@realgenuinemakour 7 лет назад

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

@goldenbeardofficial8541 6 лет назад

Riley Graham cause she's an illegal mexican

@elijared1162 6 лет назад

Happened to me at a Sams

@joyfulsquishies2698 6 лет назад

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

@d00mboy13 3 года назад

Thats why they work at wendys. There fucking stupid.

@Dyl_Apple 2 года назад

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 7 лет назад

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

@ashyy6819 6 лет назад

Does She Ever Get Any?

@firepower7017 6 лет назад

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 5 лет назад

Marichii just ask the bank

@dilainimendez2121 4 года назад

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 6 лет назад

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 Год назад

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

@swaggin1716 Год назад

Who’s counterfeiting $2 bills lmao

@weirdspongeguy 6 лет назад

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

@thefishingboy2065 6 лет назад

@blackbacon08 5 лет назад

Um, what?

@jjplayslegogames3702 5 лет назад

Two pounds and two dollars are different

@RaBlazers 4 года назад

You missed the point

@daviddrivez9978 7 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

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

@Luke-hq5zd 5 лет назад

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

@scotth8146 8 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

*cue Alexander Hamilton laughing*

@aprilfjckadcfhf910 5 лет назад

Roofingdoggo *cue burr shooting Hamilton*

@von3689 5 лет назад

@@aprilfjckadcfhf910 *cue Thomas Jefferson laughing*

@Old_Hickory_Jackson 4 года назад

Bruh

@drywalleater13628 3 года назад

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

@tentacletiddies 7 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

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

@ahab9694 6 лет назад

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

@scribble71891 7 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

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

@tennisdude52278 6 лет назад

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 5 лет назад

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

@lemonwedge 4 года назад

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 4 года назад

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

@renarts2211 6 лет назад

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

@autumn64fromdeltarunechapter3 4 года назад

A Tommie took an vacation overseas

@MuggyOne71 3 года назад

@@autumn64fromdeltarunechapter3 LMAO

@jackmccallum335 6 лет назад

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

@CFM2 4 года назад

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 7 лет назад

Casey Neistat 2$ Bill Ambasador

@klegendm2819 7 лет назад

Conopan Bumbescu correction $2 bill overload of a alien civilization

@georgettelommen 6 лет назад

New Brand Dollar?

@fakepro5848 6 лет назад

Exactly what I was thinking!!!

@blacksabfan 6 лет назад

No, I am the $2 Bill Ambassador.

@jacobriddle7230 7 лет назад

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

@MasterGXD 7 лет назад

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 5 лет назад

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

@TheBoyBanditKing1911 2 года назад

They are not special. They are not even rare.

@rospie4062 5 лет назад

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

@tammybarton6308 8 лет назад

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

@LiezerZero 7 лет назад

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

@Josh-jb5cd 6 лет назад

He forgot 50..

@savagedude9689 5 лет назад

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

@limeyfigdet7460 6 лет назад

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

@RetroHabit82 6 лет назад

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

@jynflyn1679 6 лет назад

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

@Fr0mDark2Light 6 лет назад

great for tips at the bar

@jeffreylewis4097 6 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

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

@sophisticated_1614 6 лет назад

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

@jordansunderman5348 4 года назад

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

@nativepancake2439 8 лет назад

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

@rustyshackelford3371 3 года назад

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 5 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

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

@carolynmmitchell2240 6 лет назад

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

@dylanmcguire2090 6 лет назад

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

@hidethesaucex3978 6 лет назад

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 4 года назад

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 3 года назад

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 8 лет назад

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

@icaruspyrrhos 7 лет назад

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

@dellanino8216 7 лет назад

Who else has one

@TheGoodoleWill216 6 лет назад

My name Jeff I had one in my money book and it was a long time ago like back in 2014

@supergamer1613 5 лет назад

@topfin8441 5 лет назад

I’m going to spend them

@alittlehair3056 5 лет назад

Succ

@alejandrorodriguez3564 5 лет назад

My dad has a stash of them..

@shelyndelgado 7 лет назад

can u make more video about two dollar bill

@rockstaraz6576 8 лет назад

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 !

@rockstaraz6576 8 лет назад

Once a month ... I Spend daily .

@chilidog2469 6 лет назад

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

@kadensienko 6 лет назад

l thought this was an ad for 2 dollar bills

@ralstonjoey6569 6 лет назад

How did they come up with the name tom?

@mingijobu2254 6 лет назад

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

@woxof46 6 лет назад

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

@jester3186 6 лет назад

You can just ask for them at a bank tho

@catherinebee5532 3 года назад

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

@user-yn5nv6nm3x 2 года назад

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 6 лет назад

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

@cristobalaguilar6876 7 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

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

@pronintendo1984 6 месяцев назад

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 7 лет назад

the ad wss longer than the actual video

@dateddelvings1695 7 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

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 5 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

Dang I see u with that VL Wallet Lol

@auadisian 3 года назад

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 7 лет назад

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

@raeyearnd3260 5 лет назад

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 5 лет назад

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

@justausername3741 5 лет назад

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

@BugHwi Год назад

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 8 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

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 2 года назад

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

@daphnerodriguez9980 2 года назад

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

@batman2sexy 5 лет назад

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

@sekritdinos7221 7 лет назад

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 6 лет назад

What about 5 and 50 dollar bills?

@btsvkook2174 6 лет назад

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 7 лет назад

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

@simonl758 7 лет назад

Turn up the volume at 0:38

@howHumam 6 лет назад

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:)