Clemson enthusiast Chris Fortenberry rummages through his wallet in search of a special bill. He is convinced it’s in there somewhere, though he may have stashed it away for safekeeping and forgotten about it.This is a common situation for holders of $2 bills. Instead of spending them, they often keep them as collectibles rather than using them as regular currency valued at $2.
This particular bill holds sentimental value for Fortenberry as he acquired it during Clemson’s victory over Alabama in the national championship game in Tampa, Florida, a couple of years ago.
While Fortenberry’s wallet contains the standard bills, his $2 bills, unlike those of other Clemson fans, do not bear an orange tiger paw mark – at least not yet. As he prepares to attend the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic where Clemson will face Notre Dame, he and his wife, Ashley, along with other friends, are each bringing their own $2 bills to participate in the tradition.
Since the 1970s, Clemson fans have been circulating these specially stamped $2 bills featuring a tiger paw imprint on Thomas Jefferson to promote the Tigers nationwide. This idea was initiated by George Bennett, the executive director of Clemson’s IPTAY booster club, as a way to showcase the positive impact of supporting the football team on local businesses.
Reflecting on the tradition, Bennett remarked, “When you start something like this, you don’t realize you’re beginning a tradition.” Prior to 1973, games between Clemson and Georgia Tech were a big draw in Atlanta.
