Massachusetts Currency
1779 - Rising Sun
An emission of £20,000 in bills of credit as part of the previous issue of October 16, 1778 but payable by December 1, 1782. The front of these bills was made from a newly created plate by Paul Revere depicting the sun rising. On each denomination the scene and borders are slightly different. Apparently Revere printed only the front of the bills. The back was typset by Thomas Fleet in Boston reusing the cast cuts of the pine tree previously used for the October 18, 1776 and October 16, 1778 issues. Revere's original copper plate, with the front of all twelve denominations survives in the Massachusetts State Archives. The American Antiquarian Society and the Massachusetts Historical Society both have restrikes of the plate. The Historical Society also has a presentation proof copper plate of the printed back of all twelve denominations. On the back of the plate is written "Presented to Mr. Thomas Fleet the printer 14 Septem. 1799." Also, the Chamberlain Collection in the Boston Public Library has Revere's handwritten bill to the state for £713 6s8d for the engraving and printing of this issue. On this and the previous issues by Paul Revere see: Clarence S. Brigham, Paul Revere's Engravings, Atheneum: New York, 1969, pp. 213-241.obv
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1s Serial Number:2972 MA 1779
Signer: Jonathon Brown.
Size: 76 x 64mm (front border design: 73 x 60mm; back border design: 60 x 49mm).
Comments: The rising sun differs on each denomination; this is the only illustration with a pine tree on the hill. The border design also difers by denomination.
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from the EAHA mail bid auction of May 23, 1998, lot 379, where it was graded choice extremely fine.
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4s Serial Number: 6492 MA 1779
Signer: Richard Cranch.
Size: 74 x 63mm (front border design: 72 x 60mm; back border design: 60 x 49mm).
Comments: The rising sun differs on each denomination; here it comes over the left side of a hill. Imposition of Thomas Fleet's pine tree cut on the back is slightly off center with respect to the front; in our example it is shifted approximately 3mm to the right.
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 12/2/95 lot 451. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
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4s6d Serial Number: 2701 MA 1779
Signers: Jonathon Brown.
Size: 76 x 64mm (front border design: 73 x 61mm; back border design: 62 x 49mm).
Comments: The rising sun differs on each denomination; here it comes over the right side of a hill. Imposition of Thomas Fleet's pine tree cut on the back is slightly off-center with respect to the front; in this example it is shifted approximately 1.5mm to the left.
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 12/2/95 lot 452. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
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5s Serial Number: 6207 MA 1779
Signers: Richard Cranch.
Size: not available
Comments: The rising sun differs on each denomination, here the sun has a face and rises over the left side of a hill. Image of the back of this bill is not available.
Courtesy of Early American Numismatic Auctions, Inc. Images used with permission from their on-line auction catalog for the auction of April 20, 1996, lot 472.
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5s4d Serial Number: 2489 MA 1779
Signers: Jonathon Brown.
Size: 77 x 65mm (front border design: 72 x 60mm; back border design: 63 x 49mm).
Comments: The rising sun differs on each denomination, here the sun has a face and rises directly over the peak of a hill. Imposition of Thomas Fleet's pine tree cut on the back is slightly off center with respect to the front; in this example it is shifted approximately 1.0mm to the left.
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 12/2/95 lot 453. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
