Georgia Currency
May 4, 1778
A typeset emission of £150,000 in bills of credit to be paid from proceeds acquired out of the seizure of Tory estates as established in the act of May 4, 1778. Printed in red and black by W. Lancaster of Savannah, with a greenish blue seal. There are five signers on each bill. Denominations printed were: $20, $30 and $40 notes.obv
rev
$20 Serial Number: 329 GA 05/04/78
Signers: William Few, Thomas Netherclift, William Maxwill, William O'Bryen, Nehemiah Wade.
Size: 89 x 173mm. (front border design 81 x 152mm; back border design 78 x 109mm).
Comments: Printed with red and black ink. In the lower right corner of the front is a greenish-blue circular seal depicting a coiled rattlesnake ready to strike. The motto above, which is also on the back of the bill printed in red, reads: "Nemo me impune lacesset" (No one will provoke me with impunity). There are four varieties of this note, two of which have a floral designs on the outer row of the left border, as in our example, and two of which have circular designs instead. The two varieties of floral designs are distinguished by the number of ornaments in the bottom border. Starting from the ornament in the lower right corner and counting towards the left, one will find either 17 or 20 ornaments before coming to a small vertical bar. Our example has 20 ornaments before the bar. There are some holes in our note over the ends of the second and third signatures.
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr, Numismatic Endowment from the EANA mail bid auction 01/13/96, lot 353.
obv
rev
$40 Serial Number: 3513 GA 05/04/78
Signers: Charles Kent, William Few, Richard Wylly, William O'Bryen, Nehemiah Wade.
Size: 84 x 154mm. (front border design 81 x 152mm; back border design 78 x 110mm).
Comments: Printed with red and black ink. There is a Greenish blue seal on the front left margin with the GEORGIA printed in cursive script. In the lower right corner is a greenish-blue circular seal depicting a dove holding an olive branch in its beak while below is a hand holding a dagger. The motto on the back of the bill printed in red, reads: "Aut pax, aut bellum in utroque paratus" (Either war or peace, prepared for both). There are two varieties of this note; both have a floral designs on the outer row of the left border distinguished by the number of ornaments in the bottom border. Starting from the ornament in the lower right corner and counting towards the left, one will find either 17 or 20 ornaments before coming to a small vertical bar. Our example has 20 ornaments before the bar. There is a tear in our note near the upper right corner of the front.
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr, Numismatic Endowment from the EAHA mail bid auction 02/12/2000, lot 361.
