NC 1776 $7-1/2

Title

North Carolina paper currency, Bill of Credit value seven and an half dollars

Maker

[James Davis, printer]

Material

Laid paper, ink

Origin

North Carolina, [New Bern]

Date:

1776

Dimensions:

OH: 2 3/8” (6.1 cm); OW: 3 7/16” ” (8.5 cm)

Description:

Engraved seven and an half dollar Bill of Credit issued by North Carolina with narrow borders on both sides and, in lower left corner, a vignette of a U. S. flag with 13 stripes and Union Jack in upper left corner. Left border: “G. L./ Seven Dollars & ½.” Right border: “Seven Dollars & ½.” Main text: Death to/ Counter-/ feit./ Seven Dollars and an half./ N^o Carolina Currency/ N^o 2606 SEVEN DOLLARS/ AND AN HALF/ By Authority of Congress/ at Halifax April 2^d 1776.” Ink signatures: “Webb”/ “ W Haywood” and “D Sumner.” Ink inscriptions on reverse: “E Adcoch/ to [illegible]” “John S l”,  “Cap^t Ramsey to we” arris Gresham/ to AC”, “M Coln^l Young/ GL”.

Source:

Purchase

Relation:

Comments:

Engraved initials “G L” in lower corner of left border are assumed to be those of Gabriel Lewyn, a Baltimore goldsmith. An Act dated April 2, 1776, authorized the printing of $1,250,000 (£500,000) in Bills of Credit. The bills were issued in two series: $250,000 in the first, dated April 2, 1776 (the beginning of the session) and $1,000,000 in the second dated May 9, 1776. Each bill has a vignette and some also contain mottoes. This denomination was issued in a series of 10,000 bills. Fractional denominations (less than one dollar) are smaller in size than the higher denominations. Bills were signed by: Willis Alston, J. Bradford, William Haywood, G. Hill, Benjamin McCulloch, David Sumner, J. Webb, and William Williams.

Language:

En

Rights:

Permission to use the photograph must be obtained in writing from Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens, New Bern, North Carolina. It must be accompanied by the caption” From the collection of Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens, New Bern, North Carolina; North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archive and History.”