Description and research notes
This 1976 Bicentennial Issue 2 Dollars Federal Reserve Note from the Richmond District (Friedberg 1935-E, EB Block) carries the “DUECE DUKE” pedigree and represents one of the highest-grade survivors from the only circulating paper-money commemorative ever produced by the United States.
The Bicentennial of 1776-1976 was the most ambitious patriotic celebration since World War II—a full-year acknowledgment of two centuries of independence, democracy, and national identity. Rather than minting an expensive collector coin, the Treasury chose a gesture every American could share: it revived the $2 bill, dormant since 1966, and reissued it as the *Bicentennial Note.* Released on April 13 1976, Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, the new design paired Jefferson’s portrait with John Trumbull’s 1818 depiction of *The Signing of the Declaration of Independence.* The note became both practical currency and an official souvenir of the nation’s 200-year milestone.
Across the country, banks and post offices organized “First Day of Issue” ceremonies. People lined sidewalks to purchase freshly printed notes and have them hand-stamped with special cancellations dated April 13. Newspapers called it “the new national keepsake.” Because most buyers saved them as mementos rather than spending them, the vast majority of 1976 $2s remain in exceptional condition—physical reminders of the optimism that surrounded America’s Bicentennial year.
Technically, the note also marked the shift from red-seal United States Notes to modern green-seal Federal Reserve Notes, symbolizing a fully unified national currency system. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s intaglio of Trumbull’s painting was among its most complex engravings to date, capturing forty-two distinct historical figures.
Certified PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated, this example exhibits sharp registration, deep embossing, and paper originality. The “DUECE DUKE” pedigree identifies it as one of the standout Richmond-district pieces noted for exceptional centering and color saturation. More than a grade or label, it is a tangible artifact of the United States Bicentennial—the only time a modern American banknote was intentionally issued to celebrate the nation’s founding.