Virginia Currency
May 3, 1779
An emission of £400,000 ($1,333,333) in treasury bills issued without legal tender status but made legal tender in March 1781. Like other contemporary Virginia emissions this series was valued in Spanish Milled Dollars. This issue used the revised Virginia state arms on the front showing Liberty as a soldier trampling a foe. Denominations of $15 and below use the same cuts as the previous issues of May 4th and October 5th, 1778, with the new date typeset. Control letters are also used and typeset on the notes. This issue has a blank reverse and is printed on heavy rag paper containing blue fibers and mica flakes. There were two signers on the $3 through $15 and three signers on the $50 and $100. The two highest denominations were indented large size bills completely typeset. Denominations issued were $3, $5, $7, $10, $15, $50 (£15) and $100 (£30).obv
$50 Serial Number: 19,048 VA 05/03/79
Signers: Thomas Everard, H. Randolph, J. Hopkins
Size: 92 x 136mm (front border design 88 x 134mm).
Comments: Numbering and one signature in a light red ink with two other signatures in brown inks. This is one of the large size typeset notes and is denominated as both $50 and £15. The note is indented on the right margin. Click here to view the blank back
Provenance: Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from the EAHA mail bid auction of 04/26/97, lot 340.
