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  • Continental Currency Index

    Continental Currency

    November 29, 1775   continued

    obv rev


    $5                   Serial Number: 57,335                 CC 11/29/75

    Signers: Phineas Bond, John Shee.

    Size: 72 x 96mm (front border design: 70 x 92mm; back border design: 67 x 88mm).

    Comments: Signed and numbered in brown ink. This is the most difficult emblem in the series to understand. Benjamin Franklin explained the Continental Currency emblems in a letter published under the pseudonym of Clericus in the Pennsylvania Gazette of September 20, 1775. For the five dollar emblem he explained:
    ...we have a thorny bush, which a hand seems attempting to eradicate. The hand appears to bleed, as pricked by spines. The motto is, SUSTINE VEL ABSTINE; which may be rendered, Bear with me, or let me alone; or thus, Either support or leave me. The bush I suppose to mean America, the bleeding hand Britain. Would to God that bleeding were stopt, the wounds of that hand healed, and its future operations directed by wisdom and equity; so shall the hawthorn flourish, and form an hedge around it, annoying with her thorns only its invading enemies. [B. Franklin, Writings, ed. by J.A. Leo Lemay, 1987, pp. 734-738 on p. 735.]
    The nature print on the back is of betony and sage and is identical to to the nature print used on earlier Pennsylvania currency. Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes. The back of our example has been reinforced with small bits of glued paper.

    Provenance: From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection.

    obv rev


    $6                   Serial Number: 20,796                  CC 11/29/75

    Signers: Benjamin Fuller, Joel Evans (in red ink).

    Size: 71 x 93mm (front border design: 70 x 91mm; back border design: 68 x 89mm).

    Comments: Numbering and second signature in red ink; first signature in black ink. The emblem on the front shows a beaver gnawing down a tree with the motto: "Perseverando" (By persevering). The nature print on the back is of buttercup. Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes.

    Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 277. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.

    obv rev


    $7                   Serial Number: 9,201 (faded)                 CC 11/29/75

    Signers: Samuel C. Morris, Stephen Collins (in red ink).

    Size: 72 x 97mm (front border design: 70 x 90.5mm; back border design: 67 x 89mm).

    Comments: Numbering and second signature in red ink; first signature in black ink. 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. Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes.

    Provenance: From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection.

    obv rev


    $8                   Serial Number: 62,464                  CC 11/29/75

    Signers: Thomas Smith (in red), William Crispin.

    Size: 72 x 95mm (front border design: 70 x 92mm; back border design: 70 x 90mm).

    Comments: Numbering and first signature in red ink; second signature in brown 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 collection of William Warne of Harvey Cedars, NJ on 5/1/98.