Pennsylvania Currency
April 25, 1776
An emission of £85,000 in bills of credit as "resolve money" issued pursuant to the resolve of April 6, 1776 (see the July 20, 1775 emission). The British arms were used on the front of bills of 1s and higher, otherwise they are similar in appearance to the emission of October 25, 1775. The 3d-9d are smaller in size, have plates A-C and have typeset backs. Notes from 10s-40s have plates A and B. All have four front border cuts. The top border of the 1s note has an S for James Smithers and top cut for the 40s note was signed by Smithers. Notes of 1s and up have nature prints on the back (except the 2s6d which has a chevron design of the back). Bills from this emission were printed by Hall and Sellers in Philadelphia on paper containing mica flakes and blue threads. In each denomination the spelling of the colony name "Pennsylvania" is found in a different form; the spelling also differs by plate from 10s notes and higher. This is the continuation of an anti-counterfeiting measure used by Franklin and Hall. Usually numbered in red ink and at least one of the three signatures in red. Denominations issued were: 3d, 4d, 6d, 9d, 1s, 18d, 2s, 2s6d, 5s, 10s, 20s, 30s and 40s.obv
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2s6d Serial Number: 10,650 PA 04/25/76
Signers: Benjamin Betterton, William Clifton.
Size: 86.5 x 72mm (front border design: 85 x 68mm; back border design: 82 x 63mm).
Comments: Signed and numbered in brown ink. British Arms appear at right with G R for Georgius Rex. The colony name appears as "Pennsylvania ". Chevron design on the back. The paper contains mica flakes and blue threads.
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 452. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
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40s Serial Number: 12,516 Plate B PA 04/25/76
Signers: William Kenly, William Crispin (in red), Benjamin Betterton.
Size: 88 x 70mm (front border design: 86 x 70mm; back border design: 85 x 67mm).
Comments: First signature in brown ink, numbering and second signature in red ink and the third signature in black ink. This denomination is very similar to the previous issue of December 8, 1775. The British arms appear on the front with the denomination keyed to eight crowns, four above and four below the arms. The colony name appears as "Pensilvania". The top border cut is signed by the engraver "J. Smithers Sculp." directly above the serial number. The two side columns and the top border designate the note as two pounds, this is the only note in the series to have a pound designation on it. A nature print on the back consisting of a leaf. The paper contains mica flakes and blue threads.
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 04/20/96 lot 562. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
