Pennsylvania: April 3, 1772
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  • Pennsylvania Index

    Pennsylvania Currency


    April 3, 1772

    An emission of £25,000 in bills of credit. Printed in Philadelphia by Davis Hall and William Sellers with engraved border cuts by James Smithers. The notes also contain the Penn family arms. The pence denominations are smaller with typeset backs and come in plates A-C. One shilling notes and above have nature prints on the back (a chevron design is on the 2s6d) with 1s-2s6d having plates A and B, while the 40s note comes in plates A-D and has a border cut signed "J. Smither Sculp." Pennsylvania was spelled in various ways on different denominations. Denominations issued were: 3d, 4d, 6d, 9d, 1s, 18d, 2s, 2s6d and 40s.


    obv rev


    2s               Serial Number: 6459         Plate A      PA 10/01/73

    Signers: Cadwalader Morris, Joseph Swift, Samuel Hudson.

    Size: 80 x 88mm (front border design: 73 x 85mm; back border design: 64 x 82mm).

    Comments: On the front the right border cut (top lintel) is low and the left border cut (base) is high. Penn family arms with motto "Mercy Justice" appear on the front. Colony name appears as "Pensylvania". There is a nature print of a leaf on the back. The paper contains mica flakes.

    Provenance: EANA mail bid auction 04/20/96 lot 541. Purchased through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment.