South Carolina Currency
June 1, 1775
An emission of £1,000,000 in engraved large size certificates of credit entitling the bearer to current money. Each denomination has a different vignette with a motto. The reverse of the two lower denominations are blank while the two higher denominations have decorated backs engraved by James Oliphant. There are six signers on each note. Printed on thin paper, some examples have a watermark. Denominations issued were: £5, £10, £20 and £50.obv
£5 Serial Number: 16,837 SC 06/01/75
Signers: Thomas Corbett, Gideon Dupont, John Edwards, John Neufville, Peter Bacot and William Gibbes (the final signature is quite faded)..
Size: 106 x 165mm.
Comments: Signed and numbered in a light brown ink that has faded. There are three signatures down the front of the note and three sideways by the seal with the final signature quite faded. This note is only slightly indented so that most of the design in the left border remains; also the outline of the top and bottom border are visible. On the front is a seal depicting a bundle of twelve arrows tied together with a ribbon. Above is the motto: "AUSPICIUM SALUTIS" (An auspice of well-being) with the date 1775 below. The blank back has a small handwritten annotation of a 0 with a slash through it. Click here to view the blank back.
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment. from the EANA mail bid auction of 12/02/95 lot 529.
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£10 Serial Number: 8,264 SC 06/01/75
Signers: John Edwards, John Poyas, Thomas Middleton, John Neufville, Peter Bacot and William Gibbes (the final signature is faded)..
Size: 106 x 161mm.
Comments: Signed and numbered with a variety of light brown inks that have faded. There are three signatures down the front of the note and three sideways by the seal with the final signature in a faded red ink. This note is only slightly indented so that most of the design in the left border remains. Also, the note was not cut close to the border so that the outline of the bottom and lower right engraved borders are quite visible. On the front is a seal depicting a hand holding a sword. Above is the motto: "ET DEUS OMNIPOTENS" (And almighty God) with the date 1775 below. This means both the power of God and the might of arms favor the revolution. The blank back has a small handwritten annotation "Jerez" in the upper left corner. Near the bottom (written upside down in pencil toward the center of the note) is a subtraction problem 485 - 330 = 155. Close to this is a faded name with an upper case D. Click here to view the blank back.
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment. from the EANA mail bid auction of 09/27/97 lot 222.
