Thomas Jefferson's portrait is on what denomination of U.S. paper currency?

The portrait of the third U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson, graces the front of the two-dollar bill. This current design was first issued in 1976 to celebrate the nation's Bicentennial. The reverse side is thematically linked to Jefferson, featuring an engraving based on John Trumbull's painting, "Declaration of Independence." This makes the entire bill a tribute to Jefferson's role as the principal author of that foundational document.

Despite a popular misconception that they are rare or out of production, two-dollar bills are still printed by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Their scarcity in everyday circulation is a result of low public usage and demand, not a halt in production. Because they are used so infrequently, many people consider them a novelty and choose to save them rather than spend them.

This cycle of low use means most cash registers lack a dedicated slot for the denomination, reinforcing its status as an uncommon sight in daily transactions. Interestingly, the very first $2 bill, issued in 1862, featured a portrait of Alexander Hamilton, not Jefferson.