Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
COLONIAL CURRENCY.
Cheap Paper Money of country's Early
Days.


From the Indianapolis News.
A gentleman of this city, one of whose
ancestors served in the revolutionary war,
and whose known forbears run considerably
further back, has an interesting collection
of colonial paper money His COLLECTION Is
not large but it contains some rare specl-
mems. including several pieces of provincial
| paper money issued long before the revolu-
ton.
The American colonies had no right to
issue paper money but most of them did 1t
all the same. Massachusetts made such an
issue as early as 1690-and other colonies
followed her example at intervals. The two
Carolinas issued $4,000 of paper money in
1902 which was to be redeemed In three
years by duty liquors, skins and furs.
1t was never redeemed. In 1923 Pennsyl-
vania issued $4,000 of paper money, which,
being secured by real estate, was ultimately
redeemed.
During the revolutionary war nearly all
the colonies issued notes and assisted Con-
gress in flooding the country with worthless
currency. Some of them We're Queer-looklns
things to pass for money. A hal1-doilar
note issued by New York In 117o provided
that this bill shall pass current in all pay
ments in this colony for half Spanish
milled dollar or the value thereof In golo
or silver currency
This promise was attested by picture of
two bow-legged individuals supporting a
shield, surmounted by crown. This was
issued the year before the Declaration OF
Independence.
month before the Declaration Connecti-
cut issued a five-shilling note declaring that
1.-THE possessor of this bill shall be paid by
the treasurer of the colony of Connecticut
five shillings, lawful money, by the first day
of January, A. D., one thousand seven hun
dred and eighty-one"
Vermont made an issue of one-shiiling
nta low ff 81 a NJ
pence, North Carolina of siX-dollar notes.
The latter had as a pledge of good faith
the picture in one corner OF squirrel with
tail curled over it's back and gnawing nut.
The significance of the emblem was never
explained.
Maryland issued bills of three, four, six
and nine pence, and - on up to three
pounds, and to show that they had been
prepared with due care and thought, and
not hastily separated with a pair Of scis-
sors. the ends of the notes were scalloped.
AS supposed precaution against counter
feiting and to show that the note really
meant what 1t said, the dollar note had a
small picture of Spanish dollar inserted in
the text.
The best looking note issued by any Of the
colonies were those of Virginia These were
copper plate engravngs of good size, filled
out in ink. The first issue, in 1775, bore
the royal arms of Virginia. but the issue of
1776 had the motto: ''Sic Semper Tyrannis,"
instead of the royal coat of arms.
The oldest specimen in the collection
ferred to is a twenty-shilling note, issued
by Pennsylvania colony, dated August 10,
1723, and printed by Benjamin Franklin 1t
is good piece Of printing and fairly good
engraving. At the top is picture of the
British lion, with the figures Dos and under
meath twenty shillings," in large letters
There is no promise to pay. On one side is
the inscription: Printed by B. Franklin"
and on the other, ITO counterfeit is DEATH
The space between Is occupied by curious
looking plant, which might be Canada
thistle rare orchid
Other specimens in the collection are a
hve-shilling note, ten shilling note a fif-
teen-shilling note. and a twenty-shillng
note, issued after Braddock's defeat, to pay
the expenses of the old French war; These
issues were made by the province of Penn
sylvania and different counties of the prov
Washington first distinguished himself and
probably he was paid of in these notes
they were issued In June, 1759 Twenty
years later Washington served in the reyo
lutfonary army without pay
Another note in the collection, issued by
New Jersey In 1853. says: This bill by
law snail pass current In New Jersey for
one ounce. fifteen pennyweiShts of plate"
Another curious note represents an issue
by Maryland in 1742, and Is for "two-thi
Of dollar" 1t has the royal arms of
England at one end and the words two
thirds In bold letters around the eixe.
But the most interesting note in the col
lection on account of the personal history
connected with 1t is a two-dollar note is
sued under resolution of Congress Of May
10, ITO. This was the first issue of paper
money authorized by Congress after hos
tiifties began. and was made Immediately
after the battle Of Bunker Hin. The en-
tire issue was 81, 600, 600.
The owner of the collection pointed to
the note as 1t lay In glass case and said:
Il prize that one more than all the rest
have. Do you see that dark spot on one
end of lit That was made by the blood
of one of my ancestors. My great grand
father, on my mothers side. was one of
the mfnutemen of Massachusetts,, and was
In the battle Of Bunker Hill. In a later
engagement, after the soldiers had received
their first payment in continental currency,
he had some of the money IN his pocket
when he was wounded"