Craven County Digital History Exhibit

NC 1771 2 Pounds 

Accession Number TP.2000.017.051

 

Title

North Carolina paper currency, Debenture Bill value two pounds

 

Maker

James Davis, printer

 

Material

Ink on laid paper

 

Origin

North Carolina, New Bern

 

Date:

1771

 

Dimensions:

OH: 27/8” (7.4 cm); OW:  4 5/16” (11.0 cm)

 

Description:

Engraved two pound Debenture Bill issued by North Carolina. Printed from engraved copper plate with C-scroll border on left edge and circular vignette in lower left corner of bird with olive branch “PAX REDDITA (Peace restored) MAY 1771.” Inscribed: “2£.  Two Pounds-- No 1198/ The Province of North carolina/is indebted to the Possessor hereof/ Two Pounds Proc. Money to be paid/ out of the Public Treasury according/ to Act of Assembly passed Decbr 1771.” Ink signatures on obverse: “John Harvey” “J Rutherfurd.”/ “Lewis De Rosset” “Rd Caswell.” Inscribed in ink on the reverse:  “James White/ to/ MC” “Montfort” and “H.G. to P.R.”

 Bill folded vertically and horizontally into quarters.

 

Donor:

Anonymous

 

Relation:

This is part of 54-piece gift of North Carolina paper currency issued between 1748 and 1771 from the same anonymous donor.

 

Comments:

Bill was issued in a series of 5,000. A total of £60,000 in Debenture Bills was issued pursuant to the December 1771 Act of the Assembly. Counterfeit copies of this bill are known. Joseph Montfort was the Treasurer of the Northern District of North Carolina.

 

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.”

Obverse Image
Reverse Image

Images scanned by Dean Knight
Text prepared by Nancy Richards and Victor T. Jones, Jr.