The mystery of a man known simply as "Steve" who hands $2 bills to famous musicians and politicians has been solved. The "350-pound Jewish guy" has been repeatedly mistaken for an entertainment lawyer. He's been seen backstage with Drake, Kanye West, Jay Z, and others —"not just backstage, but standing with—and often, next to—the star of the show. Smiling. Talking them up, and being talked to.... And as always, handing out those $2 bills."
Turns out he’s a NYC corporate bankruptcy attorney named Steven Reisman who “hands everybody a two dollar bill! For good luck!” says one source. He’s been all over the hip-hop music scene with his $2 bills to the extent that Drake, Jay Z, and the Def Jam executive vice president, among others, say he’s a great guy.
“If I gave people $2 bills, wouldn’t that make them feel a little bit more lucky?” Reisman says.
(February 10, 2014) (Also discussed here; February 11, 2014)
Last night the television show Hardcore Pawn featured a man trying to buy a $599 wristwatch with a $2 bill. (You can view the episode here by logging in through one of several regional providers — none of which I can access, so no Hardcore Pawn for me, alas!) Someone here points out that a 1928 series $2 bill, while worth more than $2 today, would not have been enough to cover the price of the watch.
So I looked into what a 1928 series $2 bill might be worth now and learned that "the majority of 1928 $2 bills are worth around $5 each."
(1928 $2 bill image: Antiquemoney.com)
A cruise guide message board is discussing tipping with $2 bills on cruise ships. A few choice quotes:
"I feel it has that perfect balance. Higher than $1 but not as high as $5 (which can add up quickly)"
"many retailers do not accept them any more."
"They are barely recognized in the US, much less overseas."
"Ask anybody in the US under, say 40, if they have ever seen one in circulation."
"Just try to buy a burger at the local MickyD and pay for it with a $2 bill. Wanta bet the counter person has to get a manager involved to see if it is 'real' money."
"No one likes, or uses, $2....not even in our own country!"
"no place to put them in cash boxes; not worth the time and effort to bring them to the bank"
"I would not give someone a tip in $2 bills or in $1 coins because some places won't accept them."
(February 10, 2014)
The Internet just gave birth to another amusing/frustrating/ultimately useless discussion of using $2 bills in vending machines. As usual for these message board discussions, a dope spits out a piece of heinously repeated misinformation: "since the $2 bill is no longer being produced and basically out of circulation, I doubt the bill readers would identify it."
(February 11, 2014)
