Rhode Island Currency
July 2, 1780
An emission of £39,000 ($130,000) in legal tender bills of credit payable in Spanish milled dollars by December 31, 1786 with 5% interest. This issue was authorized pursuant to the Continental Congress Resolution of March 18, 1780. The front was printed in black with border cuts by Henry Dawkins. The back was printed in black and red with border cuts and emblems from the Continental Currency issue of January 14, 1779. The cuts surrounding the emblem are by Dawkins. Printed by Hall and Sellers in Philadelphia using paper watermarked "Confederation." Sometimes surcharged in red on the front "Interest paid one year." Interest was calculated from April 1, 1781 because the notes were not issued until January 1, 1781. There are two signatures on the front and a guaranty signature on the reverse. Denominations issued were: $1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $7, $8 and $20.obv
rev
$1 Serial Number: 1315 RI 07/02/80
Signers: Adam Comstock, Caleb Harris (in red ink); no guaranty signature on back.
Size: front border design: 69 x 88mm; back border design: 68 x 88.5mm.
Comments: Numbering and first signature in black ink; second signature in red ink. Back bears an emblem from the Continental Currency issue of January 14, 1779 which depicts a bowl containing weights sitting on top of an acanthus bush with the motto: "Depressa resurgit" (Having been pressed down it rises up again). Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes with a watermark which reads: "CONFEDE / RATION" on two lines, oriented so that it reads from the front. Our example is part of an uncut sheet (front, back).
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 472. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
obv
rev
$2 Serial Number: 1315 RI 07/02/80
Signers: Adam Comstock, Caleb Harris (in red ink); no guaranty signature on back.
Size: front border design: 68 x 88.5mm; back border design: 68 x 88.5mm.
Comments: Numbering and first signature in black ink; second signature in red ink. Back bears an emblem from the Continental Currency issue of January 14, 1779 of grain being threshed with a flail with the motto: "Tribulatio ditat." (It is enriched by affliction). Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes with a watermark which reads: "CONFEDE / RATION" on two lines, oriented so that it reads from the front. Our example is part of an uncut sheet (front, back).
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 472. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
obv
rev
$3 Serial Number: 1315 RI 07/02/80
Signers: Adam Comstock, Caleb Harris (in red ink); no guaranty signature on back.
Size: front border design: 69 x 88.5mm; back border design: 68 x 88.5mm.
Comments: Numbering and first signature in black ink; second signature in red ink. Back bears an emblem from the Continental Currency issue of January 14, 1779 of an eagle and an heron fighting with the motto: "Exitus in dubio" (The outcome is in doubt). Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes with a watermark which reads: "CONFEDE / RATION" on two lines, oriented so that it reads from the front. Our example is part of a full sheet (front, back).
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 472. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
obv
rev
$4 Serial Number: 1315 RI 07/02/80
Signers: Adam Comstock, Caleb Harris (in red ink); no guaranty signature on back.
Size: front border design: 69 x 88mm; back border design: 68.5 x 88.5mm.
Comments: Numbering and first signature in black ink; second signature in red ink. Back bears an emblem from the Continental Currency issue of January 14, 1779 of a wild boar charging into a spear with the motto: "Aut mors aut vita decora" (Either death or an honorable life). Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes with a watermark which reads: "CONFEDE / RATION" on two lines, oriented so that it reads from the front. Our example is part of an uncut sheet (front, back).
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 472. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
obv
rev
$5 Serial Number: 1315 RI 07/02/80
Signers: Adam Comstock, Caleb Harris (in red ink); no guaranty signature on back.
Size: front border design: 69 x 88mm; back border design: 68 x 92mm.
Comments: Numbering and first signature in black ink; second signature in red ink. Back bears an emblem from the Continental Currency issue of January 14, 1779 of a hand in a thorn bush bleeding from pricks with the motto: "Sustine vel abstine" (With perseverance or with acquiesence). Paper contains blue threads and mica flakes with a watermark which reads: "CONFEDE / RATION" on two lines, oriented so that it reads from the front. Our example is part of a full sheet (front, back).
Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/13/96 lot 472. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.
