Maryland: April 10, 1774
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    Maryland Currency

    April 10, 1774

    An emission of $480,000 in indented bills without legal tender status authorized on November 16, 1773, of which $266,666 was for loans, $80,000 for government expenses and $133,334 to be exchanged for worn bills. The notes were to be payable from October 10, 1785 - April 10, 1786 at the rate of 4s6d sterling per dollar or equivalent in gold or silver. However by an act of October 17, 1780 all currency issues before 1776 were to be exchanged at a rate of $40 old dollars for $1 new dollar until March 20, 1781 at which time they became void. The issue was similar to the March 1, 1770 issue but on thinner paper containing mica flakes and using the nature prints of the July 14, 1756 emission. Printed by Anne Catherine Green and William Green with border cuts by Thomas Sparrow. Each bill had two signers and had what were termed "secret marks" to deter and detect counterfeits. Although such marks appeared on several colonial issues they were always exactly copied by counterfeiters. Denominations printed were: $1/9, $1/6, $2/9, $1/3, $1/2, $2/3, $1, $2, $4, $6 and $8.

    obv


    $1/3                   Serial Number: 22,229                 MD 04/10/74

    Signers: William Eddis, John Clapham.

    Size: not available.

    Comments: Signed and numbered in black ink. On the front are the Maryland arms and three engraved border cuts with the bottom margin typeset. As a secret anti-counterfeiting mark there is small h with an insert mark below it in the word "Third" on the first line and on the third line a small e with an insert mark below it in the word "Bearer". In the upper right corner is "IG Printer" for Jonas Green. This bill was originally designed and used in the January 1, 1767 emission, which had been printed by Jonas Green. In this 1774 issue, the printers, Anne and Frederick Green, reused the format. In the upper right is "T. Sparrow" for Thomas Sparrow, who made the border cuts. An image of the back was 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 449.

    obv rev


    $2                   Serial Number: 22,032                 MD 04/10/74

    Signers: John Clapham, William Eddis.

    Size: 64 x 119mm; (front border design 62 x 118; back border design; 41 x 105mm.)

    Comments: Signed and numbered in black ink. On the front are representations of two Spanish milled dollars, the Maryland arms and three engraved border cuts with the bottom margin typeset. As a secret anti-counterfeiting mark there is a dot over the 'a' in "Rate". On the back is an upside down nature print containing leaves and branches. At the stem of the leaves are the initials "I.G." for Jonas Green. These nature prints has originally been designed for and used in the January 1, 1767 emission, which had been printed by Jonas Green. In this 1774 issue, the printers, Anne and Frederick Green, used the prints unchanged. On the back the bottom line of text has been set upside down.

    Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 359. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.

    obv rev


    $4                   Serial Number: 142                 MD 04/10/74

    Signers: John Clapham, William Eddis.

    Size: 63 x 114mm; (front border design 62 x 114; back border design; 41 x 103mm.)

    Comments: Signed and numbered in black ink. On the front are the Maryland arms and three engraved border cuts with the bottom margin typeset. In the top margin is the signature of the engraver, "T. Sparrow Sculpt." As an secret anti-counterfeiting mark each 'N' in "LONDON" is rotated 180 degrees. Also in the main text in the line "Sterling per Dollar for the said Bill." the article "the" was added in small letters with an insertion mark below. On the back is a nature print consisting of branches and a leaf. The leaf has the initials "I.G" on it for Jonas Green. These nature prints has originally been designed for and used in the January 1, 1767 emission, which had been printed by Jonas Green. In this 1774 issue, the printers, Anne and Frederick Green, used the prints unchanged. On the back the bottom line of text has been set upside down. As a secret anti-counterfeiting mark there is a dot over the 'a' in "Rate". On the back is an upside down nature print containing leaves and branches.

    Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 04/20/96 lot 455. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.

    obv rev


    $6                   Serial Number: 7973                 MD 04/10/74

    Signers: William Eddis, John Clapham.

    Size: 65 x 107mm; (front border design 60 x 105; back border design: 41 x 102mm.

    Comments: Comments: Numbered and signed in brown ink. On the front is the Maryland arms and three engraved border cuts with the bottom margin typeset. As an secret anti-counterfeiting mark a dot follows "Assembly"; there are also three type sizes in "MARYLAND". Along the right border is "I.G. Printer" for Jonas Green, who printed the January 1, 1767 emission from which this 1774 emission was copied by the printers Anne and Frederick Green. Also in the right border is, "T. Sparrow Sculp." for the engraver of the border cuts. These names are also mentioned in the top border with "I.G. Printer" to the left and "T.S. Sculpt" to the right; "I.G." is also found in the lower right margin in the scroll work. On the back is a nature print with two two types of leaves, on the leaf to the right are the initials "I.G."

    Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 12/2/95 lot 442. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.