NC 1771 Series Uncut Sheets

Title

Uncirculated North Carolina paper currency; fifty uncut sheets of Debenture Bills with values of two shillings and six pence, one pound, and ten shillings.

Maker

James Davis, printer

Material

Ink on laid paper

Origin

North Carolina, New Bern

Date:

1771

Dimensions:

OH:  4 ¼” (11.0 cm);OW:  6 5/8” (16.8 cm)

Description:

Fifty uncut sheets of Debenture Bills issued by North Carolina with values of two shillings and six pence, one pound, and ten shillings on each sheet. (Top) Printed from engraved copper plate with scroll leafage border on left edge and circular vignette of house on lower left corner. Inscription: “Two Shillings & Six Pence. N^o 28401 . The Province of North Carolina is in-/ debted to the Possessor hereof/ two shil-/lings & six pence proc. Money to be paid out/ of the Public Treasury according to/ Act of Assembly passed Dec^br 1771.” Ink signatures on obverse: “J Rutherfurd” “John Harvey”/

“R^d Caswell” “Lewis De Rosset.”

 (Middle) Printed from engraved copper plate with scroll leafage border on left edge and circular vignette of bear representing the constellation Ursa Minor in lower left corner. Inscription: “20s, One Pound--  No 8401/ The Province of North Carolina is/ indebted to the Possessor hereof One/ Pound proc. Money to be paid out/ of the Public Treasury according to/ Act of Assembly passed Dec^br 1771.” Ink signatures on obverse: “J Rutherfurd” “John Harvey”/ “R^d Caswell” “Lewis De Rosset.”

(Bottom) Printed from engraved copper plate with scroll leafage border on left edge and circular vignette of a sailing ship in lower left corner. Inscription: “10s, TEN SHILLINGS—N^o 8401/ The Province of North Carolina is/ indebted to the Possessor hereof Ten/ Shillings proc. Money to be paid/ out of the Public Treasury accord-/ ing to Act of Assembly passed Dec. 1771.” Ink signatures on obverse: “J Rutherfurd” “John Harvey”/ “R^d Caswell” “Lewis De Rosset.”

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:

A total of £60,000 in Debenture Bills was issued pursuant to the December 1771 Act of the Assembly. The bills are numbered sequentially. They are tied together at center top with brown string.

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.”