Connecticut: March 1, 1780
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    Connecticut Currency

    March 1, 1780

    An emission of £40,000 in bills of credit as Treasury Notes payable by March 1, 1784 with 5% interest in Spanish milled dollars at the rate of 6s per milled dollar, or silver or gold coin equivalent. Printed in New London by Timothy Green II with engraved borders and typeset text. (This Green is the first cousin once removed of Timothy Green Jr., who had printed currency for Connecticut until his death on October 3, 1763). The front of each note shows the seal of the colony with three grape vines and a hand that points to the right on some denominations and to the left on others. The scroll carries the abbreviated motto "QUI TRAN SUST" sometimes lacking the final N or final T (What is transplanted survives). In the border is: "SIGILLUM : COLON : CONNECTICENSIS" (Seal of the Colony of Connecticut). This form of the seal was on every emission from 1755 -1780. The March 1780 emission was signed and numbered in red ink and usually slash or hole canceled upon redemption. The denominations printed were: 9d, 1s3d, 1s6d, 5s, 10s, 20s and 40s notes.

    obv rev


    5s                   Serial Number: 3458                 CT 03/01/80

    Signers: John Chester, Jabez Hamlin.

    Size: 88 x 71mm (front border design 86 x 69mm; back border design 51 x 65mm).

    Comments: The hand on the state seal points to the left. Hole cancel. The partially missing text from the front read as follows: "... coin equivalent, with Interest at five/ per Cent. per Annum, by the first/ Day of March, A.D. 1784./ Dated at Hart-/ ford, the first day/ of March, A.D./ 1780." The partially missing text from the back read: "Five Shillings/ Lawful Money / NEW . LONDON: / Printed by / TIMO. GREEN. 1780."

    Provenance: The Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection.


    obv rev


    40s    Counterfeit               Serial Number: 568                   CT 03/01/80

    Signers: Jabez Hamlin, Elisha Williams. (both are forgeries)

    Size: 88 x 70mm (front border design 85 x 69mm; back border design 54 x 67mm).

    Comments: The hand on the state seal points to the left. There is a X across the front of this counterfeit note to cancel it out. According to Newman the letter r in March and in Hartford are in their correct normal size in the counterfeit while in legal issue bills this letter is too large. Winged cherib heads are found on the design on the back.

    Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 04/20/96 lot 422. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.