The Nefarious Past of the Two-Dollar Bill
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.
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The Most Popular Movies The Year You Were Born
The buzziest film from the year you came into the world.
The Jungle BookFeaturing the voices of Phil Harris, George Sanders, and Louis Prima.
A Space OdysseyStarring Arthur C. Clarke, Keir Dullea, and Gary Lockwood
Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance KidStarring Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and Katherine Ross
Love StoryStarring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal
Diamonds Are ForeverStarring Sean Connery, Jill St. John, and Lana Wood
The GodfatherStarring Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert DuVall, and Diane Keaton
The ExorcistStarring Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, and Max von Sydow
Blazing SaddlesStarring Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn
JawsStarring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw
RockyStarring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, and Carl Weathers
Star WarsStarring Carrie Fisher, Harrison Forman, Mark Hamill, and David Prowse
GreaseStarring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
MoonrakerStarring Roger Moore and Lois Chiles
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStarring Carrie Fisher, Harrison Forman, Mark Hamill, and David Prowse
Raiders of the Lost ArkStarring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen
ETStarring Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the JediStarring Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Antony Daniels
Beverly Hills CopStarring Eddie Murphy
Back to the FutureStarring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lia Thompson, and Crispin Glover,
Top GunStarring Tom Cruise
Three Men and a BabyStarring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson, and Nancy Travis
Rain ManStarring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise
BatmanStarring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, and Billy Dee Williams
Home AloneStarring Macauly Caulkin
Terminator 2: Judgement DayStarring Arnold Schwarzenegger
AladdinFeaturing the voices of Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, and Linda Larkin
Jurassic Park
Forrest GumpStarring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright
Toy StoryFeaturing the voices of Tim Allen and Tom Hanks
Independence DayStarring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum
TitanicStarring Kate Winslet and Leondardo DiCaprio
ArmageddonStarring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom MenaceStarring Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Jake Lloyd, Natalie Portman, and Keira Knightley
How the Grinch Stole ChristmasStarring Jim Carey, Taylor Momsen, and Christine Baranski
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneStarring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint
The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersStarring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, and Orlando Bloom
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingStarring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, and Orlando Bloom
Shrek 2Featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the SithStarring Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestStarring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, and Orlando Bloom
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds EndStarring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, and Orlando Bloom
The Dark KnightStarring Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, and Michael Keaton
AvatarStarring Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Sam Worthington
Toy Story 3Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
The AvengersStarring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Hemsworth
FrozenFeaturing the voices of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel
Transformers: Age of ExtinctionStarring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, and Jack Reynor
Star Wars: The Force AwakensStarring Daisy Ridley and John Boyega
Captain America: Civil WarStarring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Sebastian Stan
Beauty and the BeastStarring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens