1976 $2 Federal Reserve Note 1st Day of Issue, with Stamp Grades Gem CU. On April 13, 1976, to celebrate the bicentennial of American independence, new $2 Federal Reserve Notes were issued with backs featuring the well-known painting Signing of the Declaration of Independence. These Notes all have a 13c Stamp or 2 stamps totaling 13c hand canceled on April 13, 1976 for the first day of issue of the new $2 notes. These official first-day-of-issue Bicentennial notes will be historic additions to your collection (designs and locations of the 13¢ stamps will vary).