Boldly Printed 1775 Virginia Pistareen Note
Virginia. July 17, 1775 One shilling three pence, fifteen pence or a pistareen. Signed by Edmund Randolph. Apparent About New-53 (PCGS). "Small rust stain and hole" noted, referring to a tiny spot of rust burn hidden within the upper left quadrant of the Virginia arms. The printing is black and bold, unusually dark for this issue, and the borders are wide and complete all the way around. The paper retains crispness and embossing, and just a single vertical centerfold is seen. The serial number and signature of Edmund Randolph, who served as both Attorney General and Secretary of State under Washington, are bold and crisp. Really a handsome example of this historic type, issued just two months after Lexington and Concord and denominated as the Spanish mainland two reale called a "pistareen," then the most common small silver coin in Virginia. Better grade examples of this note sell for a lot of money. Ford's passed $5000 back in 2004, the nice Unc in the June 2010 Stack's sale sold for over $8,000, and a particularly handsome AU-55 brought over $3000 at Heritage in 2009. This example faces up with comparable eye appeal. If I were to buy just five types to represent the whole of colonial currency, this would be one of them...Sold
Ten Bust Dollars, All in a Row
Florida, Apalachicola. Bank of West Florida. $10. November 20, 1832. #440. Very Fine. Twice endorsed on blank back. An attractive example of this popular note, with its distinctive vignette of ten Bust silver dollars dated 1799 and 1800 lined up on the right side of the face. Lightly circulated with no pinholes or tears...Sold
An Revolutionary War Officer's Pay Bond from Massachusetts
1779 Massachusetts Treasury certificate for Advance Pay to Officers. Anderson MA18. Rarity-5. Very Fine or better. Fiscal paper such as this played a vital role in the financing of the American Revolution, but it remains undercollected despite its visual impact and rarity. Just 500 of these bonds were printed and issued in the spring of 1779. The same form, without the overprint "Advance Pay to Officers, first Moiety" at the right margin, was used to pay winners of the state lottery. Probably engraved by Nathaniel Hurd, the bottom border includes the famed warning "Death to Counterfeit This," and the upper left insignia incorporates the Massachusetts Pine Tree icon within the worm Ouroboros, the symbol of infinity who eats his own tail. This example shows a bit of a cutting flaw at the right indent, hand-sliced from a big logbook to which this irregular border would be matched up upon redemption. Numbered 234, this was issued to a Captain Wheeler. Appealing, frameable, and collectible just like colonial currency, these attractive Revolutionary bonds are often assembled with The Price of Liberty by William G. Anderson as a guide. In fact, if you buy this, I'll even throw in a copy...Sold
Massachusetts. 1777 "Sword in Hand" Treasury certificate. Anderson MA 10. Engraved by Nathaniel Hurd, Boston. Extremely Fine. Number 2648, issued to Jonathan Hale on December 1, 1777 for 36 pounds. There were seven different Jonathan Hales who served in Massachusetts forces during the Revolution; one of them redeemed Massachusetts bills of credit and got this in return, payable at 6% interest in March 1781. Beautiful scalloped indent at left margin, a few period computations at bottom margin and upper right cortner, no real problems. A handsome example of one of the most famous pieces of Revolutionary War fiscal paper, a prime instrument used to fund the war effort in the state where it started. Broad margins make this ideal for display...Sold
Well-Circulated 1775 Sword in Hand Note, Engraved by Paul Revere
Massachusetts. August 18, 1775. Two Shillings. Sword in Hand. Very Good. An authentic issue. Well worn, with rounded corners and several short splits at the bottom margin. The serial numbers and signatures have faded away. Several horizontal folds were strengthened long ago, though this note was never reassembled. Toned, a bit pressed, this note looks like what it is: a well-worn and clearly very old piece of paper currency. The reverse print is bold and well detailed. There aren't many examples of Paul Revere's art than anyone can own, and there aren't many Sword in Hand notes that you can own for under $2000. This example is one of 10,000 two shilling notes that were printed in this 1775 emission, the very first to use Revere's Sword in Hand design. This denomination was notably missing from the enormous offerings of Swords in Ford 10 and Ford 15. Printed months after Lexington and Concord, circulated in the thick of the American Revolution, this note is about as been-there, done-that as an artifact can be...Sold
Virginia. One shilling, three pence or "a pistareen." July 17, 1775. Bold Fine. Signed by Edmund Randolph, Washington's Attorney General and second Secretary of State. Darkly printed and still quite detailed despite its wear, corners rounded, a bit limp at vertical centerfold but otherwise still stiff. The first issue of this important denomination, paper evidence of the dominance of the Spanish pistareen two reales in the Virginia economy. Archaeological finds in Virginia further suggest how common the easily-cut coins were, and Jefferson called them "a coin perfectly familiar to us all" in his Notes on Coinage of 1784. Five pistareens passed for a dollar, making their cut quarters the first American five cent pieces. Maryland, where the coins also circulated commonly, also issued a $1/5 note in 1780, but only the Virginia note named the one shilling, three pence as "A PISTAREEN." This type is scarce in all grades and downright rare in nice condition...Sold
Continental Currency. February 17, 1776. $2/3. VF-30 (PCGS). The famous Fugio note, designed by Ben Franklin and the only fractional series ever issued by the Continental Congress. At $2/3, this was equivalent to five shillings or one British crown. The serial number of this note -- 365503 -- suggests the number of these notes issued. I once wrote a Coin World article about a letter from a Continental Army quartermaster complaining that he had enormous chests of these notes to lug around and that higher denomination bills would be preferable. This note may well have been issued directly to a Continental soldier in just such a camp setting. Today, it shows a horizontal centerfold, moderate wear, but no pinholes...Sold
1824 Bank of the United States Stock Certificate
1824 Bank of the United States Stock Certificate. Five shares to William G. Bucknor, September 17, 1824. Printed by Fairman, Draper, Underwood, & Co. Fine. 9 1/8 x 6 1/4". Printed on thin paper. A beautiful certificate with a fine vignette of Liberty with an eagle atop a Federal shield. Several vertical folds, a few minor marginal tears, cancelled, a few light repairs and old notations on blank verso. Bucknor remained an interested investor in the Bank in 1832, when Nicholas Biddle wrote him to answer some of his concerns about the Bank's direction. A prime collectible from the most controversial government institution of the second quarter of the 19th century, an ideal association item with a collection of Hard Times tokens or Andrew Jackson items...Sold
Georgia. 1776. Three Pence. Very Good. Typeset note. Serial number faded, one signature barely visible. Well worn and rather limp, deftly repaired at vertical centerfold on back long ago, some staining but bold and appealing for the well-worn grade. Small denomination notes like this one saw very heavy circulation, a reflection of the disappearance of small change during the Revolution. This is actually the smallest denomination in the entire Colonial paper series. Georgia is generally considered the scarcest colony in the Thirteen Colonies set, and this would be a good opportunity for someone building such a set on a budget...Sold
Scarce 1777 South Carolina Bird Escaping Cage $20, Ex.Boyd-Ford
South Carolina. February 14, 1777. Twenty Dollars. Almost Very Fine. A bold and attractive example of this very scarce South Carolina issue, featuring one of the more famous vignettes in the series. The serial number (5100) and all four signatures are still plain, three of them large and bold. Paper a bit soft, rounded at the corners, a little tattered at upper left corner, bottom margin irregular as issued. Some scattered pinholes are present, two prominent ones at upper center of face. Light FCC Boyd pencil notation on back. I'm glad the notation was there, since it clued me in that this was from the Ford sales. Boyd/Ford had only two examples of the Bird Escaping Cage $20, this one being offered second in the Ford 17 sale as lot 4359. It brought $1,035 at the time. The Latin motto translates as "Our country is there, where is freedom?" Just 6,160 notes were printed of this charming, politically charged issue. This one turning up again is a fortuitous opportunity...Sold
Delaware. June 1, 1759. Twenty Shillings. Printed by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall. Good. Split and repaired during its useful life, a near certainty for any well worn example of this issue, printed on stiff stock of near baseball card consistency. Lacking the top back margin, missing a bit at the repaired fold, the all important FRANKLI(N) is still nearly complete at the left back margin. Serial number and two of three signatures fairly complete. This product of Franklin's shop was issued to help fund Pennsylvania's central role in the French and Indian War. It probably circulated until the American Revolution...Sold
Continental Currency. July 22, 1776 Thirty Dollars. Very Fine. Nicely toned paper with minimal staining at lower back and good bold signatures and serial number. "ZP" graffito at back margin is likely an owner's initials. There is a fairly heavy vertical centerfold visible from the back, which is the only thing that makes this Very Fine and Extremely Fine. There is one well hidden pinhole in the central face device. Anything printed by Congress in Philadelphia in July 1776 is surpassingly collectible. You could actually show this to a stranger and have them think you were cooler -- how many items in your collection meet that description?...Sold
Continental Currency. One Third of a Dollar. February 17, 1776. About Uncirculated in terms of wear. A sharp and attractive example of the iconic Fugio note of 1776. Great color and body, but the lower right corner is weak and the back side of the same corner (lower left) shows light thinning from an old mount. A very thin strip of old paper remains adhered at the right back margin, toned in and easily missed at first glance. Despite this flaw, this note boldly showcases the Franklin-designed Fugio and Linked Rings motifs and would be a fine way to represent this sole fractional emission of the Continental Congress...Sold
Continental Currency. July 22, 1776 Thirty Dollars. Very Fine. Nicely toned paper with minimal staining at lower back and good bold signatures and serial number. "ZP" graffito at back margin is likely an owner's initials. There is a fairly heavy vertical centerfold visible from the back, which is the only thing that makes this Very Fine and Extremely Fine. There is one well hidden pinhole in the central face device. Anything printed by Congress in Philadelphia in July 1776 is surpassingly collectible. You could actually show this to a stranger and have them think you were cooler -- how many items in your collection meet that description?...Sold
Bright Red and Blue 1776 New Jersey Note by David Rittenhouse
New Jersey. March 25, 1776 £6. Choice About Uncirculated. The famed Rittenhouse issue, signed by the future U.S. Mint Director and famous intellectual in the left face margin. Bright red and blue, never actually circulated by showing some minor rounding on the corners and not quite crisp, though still showing superb body. Choice Uncirculated notes now cost several thousand dollars – they’re not rare, just expensive. This grade offers the same bright color and sharpness – and identical historical impact – for a better value. From Stack’s 2003 Americana sale, Lot 3547...Sold
Important 1775 South Carolina Fifty Pounds Rarity
Signed by President of Congress Henry Middleton
A Relic of the Revolution and the Civil War
South Carolina. April 28, 1775 Fifty Pounds. Signed by Henry Middleton, Thomas Lynch Sr., Miles Brewton, Benjamin Huger, and Roger Smith. Very Good. Repaired, but uncanceled. One of the great rarities among currency of early America, an issue of enormous historical importance as the first American paper money issued after Lexington and Concord, signed by the sitting President of the Continental Congress. This issue rarely appears on the market, and when it does, it tends to be cancelled. The F.C.C. Boyd Collection, later sold as the John Ford Collection, contained three notes from this April-May 1775 issue; all three were ink cancelled. Only two denominations are known, the Twenty Pounds and the Fifty Pounds, as here.
Until the most recent (Fifth) edition of the Newman book, this issue was unpriced. The new edition reflects the prices of the two notes sold in Ford 3, in May 2004: $2,185 for the cancelled Twenty Pounds and $1,725 for the cancelled Fifty Pounds. An uncanceled Twenty Pounds realized $8,625 in a 1996 Christie's autograph sale where it was noted that "Autographs of Henry Middleton are of great rarity and are almost unobtainable as President of Congress. Not one Middleton letter or document has appeared at auction since at least 1960, according to American Book Prices Current. H. E. Klingelhofer, author of "Presidents of the Continental Congress," in Autograph Collector's Checklist, 1990, p. 11, ranks Middleton 'excessively rare.'" Needless to say, Middleton -- whose name was crossed out to the point of illegibility on the Boyd-Ford Fifty Pounds -- is a much rarer autograph than John Hancock, particularly so as President. Thomas Lynch Sr, who signed this note while serving in the Continental Congress, is the father of the second-rarest Declaration of Independence signer. The elder Lynch left his place in the Continental Congress after a stroke in early 1776. His son replaced him, but died at sea in 1779, leaving him ranked with Button Gwinnett among rare Signers. Other signers of this note were all important South Carolina merchants. Benjamin Huger served in the Revolution; his brother served in Congress. Miles Brewton is today best known for his Charleston townhouse, which is a National Historic Landmark.
While this document is most associated with the Revolutionary War -- intimately so, considering its date of production and the prominence of its signers -- this particular example bears an inscription dating from our other great conflict, in which South Carolina played an ever more central role. According to an ink inscription on the back, this note was "captured by the 88th Indiana Vols on Potter Plantation. 1865. South Carolina." A Hoosier exhausted by Sherman's March to the Sea can be excused an error in geography; Potter's Plantation was actually in Savannah, where the 88th Indiana participated in a siege in late December 1864 before heading into South Carolina. The condition of this note is not great. The thin laid paper of this issue was prone to splits with every fold, and nearly every known note shows them. This one has also been chipped at the left side indent and at the bottom right corner. Repairs with old mounting tape (not the modern Scotch tape, which leaves stains) are present, but the note is totally repairable if the buyer thought such repairs were desirable. This note is worth the asking price, and likely considerably more, as an autograph alone. Henry Middleton's enormous autograph is heavy, dark, and crystal clear. Thomas Lynch's is somewhat lighter and considerably smaller, but still bold. Anyone fascinated by the American Revolution or the Civil War will find great interest in this note for...Sold