Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society

This essay is a good reminder of why Thomas Jefferson has been so well respected and admired over the years. It speaks of Jefferson's lifelong generosity and compassion for others, despite his severe personal and financial losses. Enjoy!

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Several years ago, after reading hundreds of Thomas Jefferson’s letters – some short, many to family, most to friends – a discovery emerged. Jefferson was an innate giver. The discovery was eye-opening and has implications – for history and for us.

Without much prodding, most know Jefferson was our third president, before which he was vice president to John Adams, governor of Virginia, and penned our Declaration of Independence.

What many do not appreciate is that, from a young age, Jefferson experienced profound losses, at 14 his father, age 22 his sister. Even these led to loneliness and early reclusiveness until he began to engage with the world, even then with reserve.

Interestingly, at college – William & Mary – he studied math, philosophy, religion, Latin, Greek, French, and violin, with early physicist Isaac Newton and philosopher John Locke, his favorites.

While Jefferson loved books, he also loved people. At age 30, seven years older than his young bride, he married Martha. They both loved music. Ten years later, she died, as did four of their six young children. Two daughters – Maria and Patsy – lived to adulthood, Maria gone at 25, but Patsy giving him 12 grandchildren, of whom 11 lived.

More to the point, Jefferson – the private man – was filled with giving. For all his loss, he engaged life and gave himself fully to all his grandchildren, which became the essence of giving.

Politics always seemed a distant second. In letters and return letters, one hears about someone who realized clearly that living and giving are as intimately intertwined. On realizing a friend’s eyesight is failing, Jefferson orders “spectacles” that change the man’s ability to read and write. On realizing a friend needs seeds to replenish what was lost, Jefferson sends them.

Among the “laboring poor” outside Paris, he finds ways, without costing them their dignity, to buy and give what he has to lift them, in turn producing a depth of gratitude and tears.

On learning, friends are interested in ideas tied to philosophy, art, sciences, geography, biology, and anthropology, he orders books for them. Or, on the lighter side, friends who appreciated French wine got cases from him – always a surprise.

Of enduring interest should be how the “personal Jefferson” lived. He was especially focused on the word “happiness,” this student of words, who had intellectual curiosity, sipped from life’s fullness, and gave what he had to others, in word and deed.

Broadly, he wrote: “Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but…good conscience…and freedom in all just pursuits.” Thinking of his children and grandchildren, he wrote: “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.”

Somehow, despite loss and loneliness, he reached beyond his fears to live and give. He found peace – his highest peace – in it. “Friendship is precious – not only in shade but in the sunshine of life,” he said, and “thanks to a benevolent arrangement, the greater part of life is sunshine.”

Perhaps the most moving testament comes from his granddaughter, who adored him. “My grandfather’s manners to us, his grandchildren, were delightful…He talked with us freely, affectionately; he never lost an opportunity of giving pleasure or a good lesson. He reproved without wounding us and commended us without making us vain. He took pains to correct our errors and false ideas, checked the bold, encouraged the timid, and tried to teach us to reason soundly and feel rightly.”

She continued: “I remember when I was small enough to sit on his knee and play with his watch chain…I would join him in his walks on the terrace, sit with him over the fire during the winter twilight, or by the open windows in summer…I loved and honored him above all earthly beings, and well I might…To him I owed all the small blessings and joyful surprises of my childish and girlish years.”

She concludes: “His nature was so eminently sympathetic that, with those he loved, he could enter into their feelings, anticipate their wishes…surround them with an atmosphere of affection…My Bible came from him, my Shakespeare, and my first writing table…my first hat, my first silk dress. What in short of all my small treasures did not come from him? Our grandfather seemed to read our hearts, to see our invisible wishes, to be our good genius, to wave the fairy wand, to brighten our young lives by his goodness and his gifts.”

Final thought: Jefferson admired John Locke, but only to a point. Locke’s Second Treatise added justification for Jefferson’s drafting of the Declaration, as Locke sought to enshrine a right to “life, liberty, and property.” Jefferson changed that – to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Happiness was more the point, thought Jefferson. And that was another of his gifts.

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Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.

Thomas Jefferson, Happiness, and Giving Several years ago, after reading hundreds of Thomas Jefferson’s letters – some short, many to family, most to friends – a discovery...

~ Happy Independence Day! ~~ Happy July 4th! ~

Here are seven jewels of wisdom which flowed from the pen of Thomas Jefferson.

“God send to our country a happy deliverance.“ (1)

“Our fellow citizens have a sacred attachment to the event of which the paper of July 4th, 1776, was but the Declaration, the genuine effusion of the soul of our country at that time.

Small things may, perhaps, like the relics of saints, help to nourish our devotion to this holy bond of our Union, and keep it longer alive and warm in our affections.
“ (2)

"Even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science and liberties of Europe, this country remains to preserve and restore light and liberty to them.

In short, the flames kindled on the 4th of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them." (3)

“May the Declaration of Independence be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.” (4)

“The eyes of the virtuous all over the earth are turned with anxiety on us, as the only depositaries of the sacred fire of liberty.” (5)

“I hope and firmly believe that the whole world will, sooner or later, feel benefit from the issue of our assertion of the rights of man.” (6)

"Cherish every measure which may foster our brotherly Union and perpetuate a constitution of government, destined to be the primitive and precious model of what is to change the condition of man over the globe.” (7)

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1) Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, February 14, 1821.

2) Thomas Jefferson to Dr. James Mease, September 26, 1825

3) Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, September 12, 1821

4) Thomas Jefferson to Roger C, Weightman, June 24, 1826

5) Thomas Jefferson to John Hollins, May 5, 1811

6) Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Galloway, February 2, 1812

7) Thomas Jefferson to Edward Livingston, April 4, 1824

~~~

The painting is by NC Wyeth, (1882-1945).

This article is an interesting reminder, and perhaps an eyeopener, of many details regarding the Declaration of Independence.

"19 Fascinating Facts About the Declaration of Independence"

https://www.weareteachers.com/declaration-of-independence-facts/

June 11 was a good day in 1776. The Continental Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman to a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence.

"Originally, the delegates pushed for Richard Henry Lee, author of the Lee Resolution, to write the Declaration of Independence, not Jefferson. However, circumstances changed the course of history. First, Lee was appointed to the Committee of Confederation for the writing of the Articles of Confederation, and thought that being part of both committees would be too great an effort. Second, his wife became gravely ill during the Philadelphia convention, forcing him to return home prematurely.

A young delegate from Virginia who had shown great promise was selected to take Lee's place. His name was Thomas Jefferson, and he would quickly become one of the most important individuals in the history of the United States. What most people don't know is that, at first, Jefferson had no interest in penning the Declaration. He wanted John Adams to do it instead. Adams writes in his account of the episode in a letter to Timothy Pickering, a politician from Massachusetts and a good friend of Adams:

Jefferson proposed to me to make the draft. I said, 'I will not,' 'You should do it.' 'Oh! no.' 'Why will you not? You ought to do it.' 'I will not.' 'Why?' 'Reasons enough.' 'What can be your reasons?' 'Reason first, you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second, I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third, you can write ten times better than I can.' 'Well,' said Jefferson, 'if you are decided, I will do as well as I can.' 'Very well. When you have drawn it up, we will have a meeting.'

And so, it was settled. Over the course of seventeen days, in between meetings and other governmental affairs, Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence under the advisement of the Committee. It was an act that secured Jefferson's name in history forever."

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With thanks to:
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/drafting-the-declaration/

In honor of Memorial Day ...

"The first object of my heart is my own country, the asylum for whatever is great and good. In that is embarked my family, my fortune and my own existence."

~ Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, January 26, 1799

Since the first reading of the Declaration of Independence, we have turned toward our soldiers to keep us free.

In honor of these courageous and selfless men and women, from the Revolutionary War to today and beyond, we respectfully remember these heroes with deepest gratitude on this Memorial Day.

This is an interesting article about the historical value and evolution of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

If you gaze up, you can see eternity. The center draws your eye.
Almost involuntarily, your view expands outward in every direction at once, eyes following the spokes that stretch to places still unimagined.

It is the oculus. The glass eye at the top of the dome. The pinnacle of the Rotunda, a barrel-centered building that is the heart of the University of Virginia.

The ceiling of the Rotunda’s Dome Room, a scaffold of anticlines pulling up and – through the oculus – spiriting outward, seemingly draws students upward, from one floor to the next, as they ascend from first-year students to doctoral scholars. Day in and day out, people are learning in the architectural marvel – a UNESCO World Heritage site – and contributing to the world’s book of knowledge.

Over the decades, the layout and role of the Rotunda have evolved but its centrality to the University has never changed.
Today, UVA students at every level of education – much like the levels of the Rotunda – are living, learning and contributing to society in meaningful ways.

~~~ For much more, including photos and videos, please click the link below.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/at-the-center-of-it-all

Happy Birthday, Mr. Thomas Jefferson! ~ In celebration we offer notes of remembrance and praise by those who knew him well, as is our tradition. Mr. Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 ~ 280 years ago.

“…a friendship was formed, which was for life, and which was never interrupted in the slightest degree for a single moment.” ~ James Madison, September, 1830

“… He shook hands cordially with us both when he departed, and in a manner which said as plain as words could do, “I am your friend.” ~ Margaret Bayard Smith, December, 1800 (written in her notebook in 1837)

“…no man can be personally acquainted with Mr. Jefferson and remain his personal enemy.” ~ Judge Patterson of the Supreme Court (and a Federalist)

“How often I have seen him walking over these grounds, and his grandchildren following after him as happy as they could be.” ~ Captain Edmund Bacon to Rev. Hamilton W. Pierson

“And is this,” said I, after my first interview with Mr. Jefferson, “the violent democrat, the vulgar demagogue, the bold atheist and profligate man I have so often heard denounced by the federalists? Can this man so meek and mild, yet dignified in his manners, with a voice so soft and low, with a countenance so benignant and intelligent, can he be that daring leader of a faction, that disturber of the peace, that enemy of all rank and order?” ~ Margaret Bayard Smith , December 1800 (written in her notebook in 1837)

“...we see through the lucid current of his language the beds of gold over which it flowed…” ~ Alexander Hill Everett, July 4, 1836

“Mr. Jefferson was very liberal and kind to the poor.” ~ Captain Edmund Bacon to Rev. Hamilton W. Pierson

“His whole life was nothing but good,” said he, ”it was his meat and drink, all he thought of and all he cared for, to make every body happy. Yes, the purest body.” He was sure nobody could know without loving and blessing him.” ~ Joseph Dougherty (Jefferson’s servant in Washington D.C.) as related by Margaret Bayard Smith, March 31st, 1830

“Jefferson was an ideal master. He was a democrat in practice as well as theory, was opposed to the slave trade, tried to keep it out o the Territories beyond the Ohio River and was in favor of freeing the slaves in Virginia. In 1787 he introduced that famous “Jefferson proviso” in congress, prohibiting slavery in all the Northwestern Territory comprising the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.” ~ Rev. Peter F. Fosset (Jefferson’s former slave), February 12, 1898

“No servants ever had a kinder master than Mr. Jefferson’s. He did not like slavery.” ~ Captain Edmund Bacon to Rev. Hamilton W. Pierson

“Mr. Jefferson was the most industrious person I ever saw in my life.” ~ Captain Edmund Bacon to Rev. Hamilton W. Pierson

“His correspondence, which often found its way into the newspapers, presented a beautiful image of a mind at peace with itself and the world.” ~ Alexander Hill Everett, July 4, 1836

“…there is a tranquility about him, which an inward peace could alone bestow… his countenance is so full of soul and beams with such benignity…” ~ Margaret Bayard Smith

“I had the most exalted opinion of him. I believe him essentially a philanthropist, anxious for the greatest good to the greatest number, a distinguished patriot, whose love of country was not dimmed by any consideration of self; who was eminently virtuous, with fixed and honorable principles of action not to be trammelled by any unworthy consideration; and whose reputation must shine brighter and brighter, as he is more and more justly judged and estimated.” ~ Dr. Robley Dunglison June 1, 1856

“… no object had escaped Mr. Jefferson; and it seemed as if from his youth he had placed his mind, as he has done his house, on an elevated situation, from which he might contemplate the universe.” ~ Marquis de Chastellux, 1780-82

“My mother has told me that on the day of her sister’s death, she left her father alone for some hours. He then sent for her, and she found him with the Bible in his hands. He who has been so often and so harshly accused of unbelief, he, in his hour of intense affliction, sought and found consolation in the sacred volume. The comforter was there for his true heart and devout spirit, even though his faith might not be what the world calls orthodox.” ~ Ellen Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, Boston, 5 January, 1856

“Of manners simple, affable and winning, and with an understanding penetrating and perspicacious, he had long commanded in the wide circle of his friends a respect softened by affection. Even his enemies, notwithstanding their dislike of his political opinions and actions, acknowledged their love for the man.” ~ Curtius (John Taylor), 1804

“In person he was six feet two inches high, erect and well formed, though thin ; his eyes were light, and full of intelligence; his hair very abundant, and originally of a yellowish red, though in his latter years, silvered with age. His complexion was fair and his countenance remarkably expressive; his forehead broad, the nose not larger than the common size, and the whole face square and expressive of deep thinking. In his conversation he was cheerful and enthusiastic ; and his language was remarkable for its vivacity and correctness. His manners were extremely simple and unaffected, mingled however with much native, but unobtrusive dignity.” ~ Henry D. Gilpin, 1828

“He was kind, courteous, hospitable to all; sincerely attached to the excellent family that were clustered around him; sympathizing with them in their pleasures; deeply distressed in their afliictions.” ~ Dr. Robley Dunglison, June 1, 1856

“To his humane and just principles are we indebted for the measure prohibiting the importation of slaves.” ~ C. Cambreleng, 1826

“[At Mr. Madison’s inauguration] Mr. Jefferson; unattended by even a servant, undistinguished in any way from his fellow citizens. Arrived at the Capitol he dismounted and “Oh! shocking,” as many, even democrats, as well as the British minister Mr. Foster, might have exclaimed, he hitched his own horse to a post, and followed the multitude into the Hall of Representatives. Here a seat had been prepared for him near that of the new President, this he declined, and when urged by the Committee of arrangement, he replied, “This day I return to the people and my proper seat is among them.” ~ Margaret Bayard Smith

“Born to an inheritance, then deemed immense, and with a decided taste for literature and science, it would not have been surprising if he had devoted himself, exclusively, to the luxury of his studies, and left the toils and the hazards of public action to others…he could no more have stood still while his country was agitated, than the war horse can sleep under the sound of the trumpet.” ~ William Wirt, October 9, 1826

“He was always anxious to benefit the community as much as possible,” ~ Captain Edmund Bacon to Rev. Hamilton W. Pierson

“He who had so much contributed to the unbinding of the hands of his countrymen, would have left his work unfinished if he had not also unfettered their consciences.” ~ John Tyler, July 11, 1826

“He was endowed with an extraordinary power of intense reflection — a spirit of profound and patient investigation — an acuteness in the discovery of truth, and a perspicuity in its developement, of which the world has witnessed but few examples… Free from all tincture of envy, hatred, or malice — he delighted in the prosperity of his companions, and in the fame, even of those, who, by the world, were considered his rivals.” ~ William Thornton, August 10, 1826

“Mr. Jefferson…was looked up to by the friends of reform as a sort of oracle.” ~ Alexander Hill Everett, July 4, 1836

“His life, his fortune, and his sacred honour, were pledged to support the independence of America — and he most faithfully redeemed the pledge.” ~ Henry Potter, July 20, 1826

“It was he who was charged with drawing up this masterpiece [Declaration] of dignified wisdom and patriotic pride.” ~ Duke de La Rochefoucault Liancourt, 1796

“…of all the services which he had rendered his country or State, he seemed to dwell upon none with more enthusiastic delight, than upon those connected with the University of Virginia… No man better knew than Mr. Jefferson the incalculable advantages of education. “ ~ William Thornton, August 10, 1826

“It was impossible for anyone to be more amiable in his domestic relations; and it was delightful to observe the devoted and respectful attention that was paid him by all the family. In the neighborhood too he was greatly revered.” ~ Dr. Robley Dunglison, published 1963

“My thoughts dwell often in Monticello and it is then that I picture the statesman, who established the welfare of an entire continent, among his magnolia trees. Tears come to my eyes when i imagine the most virtuous of men living in such happiness. How worth while it must be, Sir, to live in the society of enterprising citizens, active for the sake of liberty which you have achieved and preserved.” ~ Alexander von Humboldt, September 23, 1810

“The talents of Mr. Jefferson were too prominent to be concealed; he rose like the etherial sun.” ~ William Staughton, July 16, 1826

“About seven o’clock in the evening of that day [July 3], he awoke, and seeing me standing at his bedside, exclaimed “Ah! Doctor are you still there ?” in a voice, however that was husky and indistinct. He then asked “Is it the 4th?” ~ Dr. Robley Dunglison, 1826

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These notes are taken from this wonderful website:
https://www.lightandliberty.org/appreciation-contemporary

Good news! Yet another of Jefferson's many important contributions has found a safe home.

"Of extraordinary importance and very rare. Considered to be the most important document written by Jefferson while Secretary of State under Washington, the Report on Weights, Measures and Coins is a breathtaking achievement. It is the culmination of many years’ thought for Jefferson, who had long pondered the best ways for a new government to address the chaos resulting from the alphabet soup of competing currencies and moneys of account in the colonial and confederation periods."

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Historic 1790 Thomas Jefferson Report on US Coinage Donated to ANA ~ It is considered to be the most important document written by Jefferson while Secretary of State.

“Thomas Jefferson was the Secretary of State in 1790 and his report to Congress is of extraordinary importance to U.S. numismatics as it led the way to the adoption of our uniform decimal system of money. The provenance of this copy dates back to a … Revolutionary War veteran who later was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the book is hand-signed by him,” explained Manley.

“I purchased this historic book specifically for the ANA so that it can always be available to researchers and not hidden away in a private collection,” he stated.

Entitled "Report of the Secretary of State, on the Subject of Establishing a Uniformity in the Weights, Measurements and Coins of the United States," the 49-page book was recently purchased for $18,000 USD by Manley in an auction conducted by Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers.

In 2003, the ANA named its library in honor of Manley in recognition of his years of support to the Association and the reference library.

“The staff of the ANA Dwight N. Manley Library is thrilled to add this document to our holdings,”said ANA Library Manager Akio Lis. “One of a handful of existing copies, this is a foundational document in the establishment of the United States mint and monetary system.”

The Kolbe & Fanning description of the book stated:

Of extraordinary importance and very rare. Considered to be the most important document written by Jefferson while Secretary of State under Washington, the Report on Weights, Measures and Coins is a breathtaking achievement. It is the culmination of many years’ thought for Jefferson, who had long pondered the best ways for a new government to address the chaos resulting from the alphabet soup of competing currencies and moneys of account in the colonial and confederation periods.

Recognizing that even the familiar British system left much to be desired, Jefferson felt strongly that the adoption of a uniform decimal system would not only be more convenient for daily transactions, but would ease the development of a national economic system in ways that would promote trade and encourage investment. The ramifications of this 1790 report are continually felt today.

This is the preferred printing of the Report, being the first edition, fourth printing. It was preceded by three folio editions, which varied only in the corrections Jefferson made to the text while it was being printed. The fourth printing, accomplished in a more convenient octavo form, was the final version, was supervised by Jefferson, and was the edition he kept in his own library. Very rare, with Rink listing only six copies, including Jefferson’s own, in institutional libraries. Rarely available in the private marketplace, this is the only copy we have ever offered, having last sold it in 2012.

This copy bears a contemporary inscription from George Gale to James Tilghman. George Gale (1756–1815) was a Revolutionary War veteran, a member of Maryland’s Constitutional Convention and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Maryland. Philadelphia lawyer James Tilghman (1716–1793), originally from Maryland, held a number of public positions and served as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania (then the College of Philadelphia).

The ANA’s Dwight N. Manley Library is open for lending, copying, and research services. The library is also open for in-person services during museum hours Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please confirm the library’s schedule by phone at (719) 482-9859 or by email at [email protected].

* * *

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications, and conventions. For more information, call (719) 632-2646 or visit money.org.

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https://coinweek.com/coin-clubs/historic-1790-thomas-jefferson-report-on-us-coinage-donated-to-ana/

Historic 1790 Thomas Jefferson Report on US Coinage Donated to ANA Considered to be the most important document written by Jefferson while Secretary of State   One of only six known surviving copies of Thomas

Calling all Jefferson memorabilia collectors... have you kept these now valuable $2 bills? Here is an interesting article on the subject.

An estimated price list published by U.S. Currency Auctions, a website dedicated to documenting paper money resources for collectors, suggests that some $2 bills can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Two-dollar bills that have been in circulation have a variable average value that’s between $2 and $2,500, depending on the year those bills were released, according to U.S. Currency Auctions.

Uncirculated $2 bills, on the other hand, have a variable average value that’s between $2 and $4,500 — which also depends on the release year and other physical factors.

Older $2 bills generally command a higher value, but a bill's note type and seal color also play a factor in each bill’s worth, according to U.S. Currency Auctions.

Bill types that U.S. Currency Auctions have estimated values for at the time of publication include the United States Note, the silver certificate, the treasury note, the National Bank Note (National Currency/FRBN) and the Federal Reserve Note.

The paper money auction resource also organized $2 bill values by seal color, which can be red, brown and red, brown and blue, red and blue, brown, blue or green.

There are two uncirculated $2 bills that have a value that can exceed $4,500, according to U.S. Currency Auctions.

Both are treasury notes from 1890. One has a brown seal, while the other has a red seal.

Many $2 bills listed on eBay — a popular multinational auction website — are packaged in sets that are priced from as low as $7.50 to as high as $10,000.

Current listings for $2 bills on GreatCollections Coin Auctions have bids that don’t exceed $100.

GreatCollections Coin Auctions is the official auctioneer of the American Numismatic Association, a nonprofit organization that educates the public about coins, currency, medals, tokens and related objects.

FOX Business recently reported that coin collectors put a high value on "doubled die" coins, a type of rare coin that isn’t supposed to go into circulation when there is a detectable double stamping, but accidentally gets released to the public.

Blake Alma, of Lebanon, Ohio, a coin collector and founder of the coin-collecting blog CoinHub, told FOX Business that the rarity of a piece of currency usually adds "an extra level of excitement and interest" for collectors.

"Many people are willing to pay top dollar for unique and rare pieces to add to their collections," he said.

In 2021, the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors reported that about $2.8 billion worth of $2 bills were in circulation.

Two-dollar bills were once viewed as a negative piece of currency; that's because these bills were often used for bribery, election rigging, gambling and prostitution during the 1920s, according to a report published by CNB St. Louis Bank.

Superstitious believers eventually deemed the bill denomination to carry bad luck.

"The $2 bill was often thought to be bad luck, as ‘deuce’ was a name for the devil," CNB St. Louis Bank wrote.

"Recipients would tear off one corner, believing it would negate the bad luck of the bill. This caused many of the bills to be taken out of circulation as mutilated currency."

The $2 bill debuted in 1862. It first featured a portrait of founding father Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the Treasury, according to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Hamilton’s portrait was replaced by that of Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president, with the Series 1869 United States Notes.

He remains the face of the $2.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing says there are no plans to redesign the $2 note.

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/2-bills-1890-worth-over-4500

$2 bills from 1890 could be worth over $4,500: report The value of collectible $2 bills varies by series year, distributor type, seal color and circulation status.