Continental Currency
May 10, 1775 continued
obv
rev
$7 Serial Number: 22,854 CC 05/10/75
Signers: Frederick Kuhl, Robert Strettell Jones.
Size: 71 x 96mm (front border design: 70 x 92mm; back border design: 69 x 90mm).
Comments: Numbering and first signature in brown ink; second faded signature in red ink. The second signature is difficult to transcribe, it appears to be Robert Strettell Jones. The emblem on the front shows a storm at sea with the motto: "Serenabit" (It will clear up). The nature print on the back is of bettercup. The paper contains blue threads and mica flakes.
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from the EANA mail bid auction of 11/16/96, lot 454.
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$8 Serial Number: 21,500 CC 05/10/75
Signers: Robert Strettell Jones (in red), Frederick Kuhl.
Size: 74 x 96mm (front border design: 70 x 92mm; back border design: 69 x 90mm).
Comments: Numbering and second signature in brown ink; first signature in red ink. The emblem on the front (39mm) shows a harp with thirteen strings with the motto: "Majora minoribus consonant" (The larger are in harmony with the smaller). The nature print on the back is of a henebit leaf and two buttercup leaves. It is identical to a nature print used on earlier Pennsylvania currency. The paper contains blue threads and mica flakes.
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from the EANA mail bid auction of 10/16/99, lot 306.
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$20 Serial Number: 8787 CC 05/10/75
Signers: Joseph Sims, Jr., John Mease (in red ink).
Size: 65 x 124mm (front border design: 57 x 120mm; back border design: 59 x 122mm).
Comments: Numbering and second signature in red ink; first signature in black ink. Most colonial and confederation era paper currency is aligned so that the back is either properly displayed or to one side when the note is turned with a "medal turn" (that is, like turning a page in a book). All notes on this website display the small images with the reverse displayed as it would appear following a medal turn. his was done so the alighment of the front and back can be easily determined. This special issue and denomination note is aligned in the manner of a "coin turn" hence I displayed the reverse upside down on the smaller image as that is the orientation if one flips the note from the left or right side (as in a medal turn). Simply click the small image to see the large image of the reverese properly oriented.
The emblem on the front shows a strong wind creating waves on the
ocean with the motto "Vi concitatae" (It assults
with a violent force). On the back is a emblem with the shining sun and
ships on a calm sea with the motto "Cessante vento conquiescemus"
(When the wind subsides we shall rest). Newman has discovered a preliminary
sketch for the front emblem in the papers of Benjamin Franklin (see his
third edition p. 53). The $20 bill from this first emission was unique in
that it was a different size from all other continental currency and was
made on different paper. It was printed by Hall and Sellers on a thin white
paper with a marbled left border that had been made by Benjamin Franklin.
Unlike the other bills they were printed individually rather than in sheets.
Also, since this note was the only Contenental Congress not that did not include border cuts, it was the only Continental Congress variety that did not include the phrase "The United Colonies" (later changed to "The United States").
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from the EAHA mail bid auction of 04/17/04, lot 656.
