Connecticut Currency

May 10, 1770

An emission of £10,000 in in bills of credit as Treasury Notes payable in lawful money by May 10, 1772 with two and one-half percent interest. Although previous emissions had offered interest at redemption no succeeding emission offered interest until 1780. There had been no currency printed in the colony since the March 8, 1764 emission and that emission was redeemed on March 8, 1768. 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 May 1770 emission was signed and numbered in red ink and usually slash or hole canceled upon redemption. Denominations in this issue were: 2s6d, 5s, 10s, 20s and 40s.

Size: 91.5 x 69mm (front border design: 88 x 69mm; back border design: 75 x 68mm).

Comments: The signatures and numbering are in red ink. The hand in the state arms points to the right. There are winged cherub heads on the design on the back of the note. Slash cancel.

Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 1/18/97 lot 258. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.