Craven County Digital History Exhibit

NC 1771 5 Pounds

Accession Number TP.2000.017.053

 

Title

North Carolina paper currency, Debenture Bill value five pounds

 

Maker

James Davis, printer

 

Material

Ink on laid paper

 

Origin

North Carolina, New Bern

 

Date:

1771

 

Dimensions:

OH: 2 9/16” (6.6 cm); OW: 3 15/16” (10.0 cm)

 

Description:

Engraved five-pound Debenture Bill issued by North Carolina. Printed from engraved copper plate with scroll leafage border on left edge and circular vignette of flags, cannon and drum on lower left corner. Inscribed: “5£. Five Pounds- No 93/ The Province of North carolina/ is indebted to the Possessor hereof,/ Five 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: “Montfort” “I superimposed on O” (marks used as an issue control feature) and “Daniel Willis to IS.” Bill folded in half vertically.

 

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 2,000. A total of £60,000 in Debenture Bills was issued pursuant to the December 1771 Act of the Assembly. Joseph Montford was the Treasurer for 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.

Last edited: June 5, 2015