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| Slot: |
May 10 1775 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$20 May 10, 1775 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG AU 55 |
| Cert #: |
8073017-001
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Owner Comments
The May 10, 1775 emission was the first emission of paper money by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Bills from this emission are considered, by many to be the first emission of paper money by the Federal Government. The authorization provided for the emission of $3,000,000 in colonial bills. There were 49,000 bills of each of 8 denominations ranging from $1 to $8 authorized, plus 11,800 $20 and 33,333 $30 bills; a total of 437,133 bills.
The $20, CC-9 bills are iconic. The marbled edge paper was imported from France by Benjamin Franklin. The paper is very thin, and these bills are often found with center splits and repairs. Most are found in lower grades, about 85% are in grades VF and lower. About 13% of the bills are in AU or better grades (only a couple bills are in uncirculated condition). There are also likely several duplicated submissions included in the census reports. Raw bills are rarely encountered today, most have been certified.
The face of the bill has an image of a strong Wind creating waves with the Latin Motto, "VI Concitate" which translates to English as, "Driven by force". The back of the bill has an image of the sun shining on sailing ships in a calm sea. Around the image is the Latin motto "CESSANTE VENTO CONQUIESCEMUS" which translates to, "When the storm dies down we will rest".
This example is from Eric P. Newman's and is the plate note in Newman's Early Paper Money of America. There were 11,800 - $20 bills authorized in the May 10, 1775 emission. All known examples have an inverted back. This bill was signed by William Jackson and Andrew Bunner. This example is the finest graded by PMG.
Top Pop Bill
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| Slot: |
November 29 1775 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$4 November 29, 1775 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG 63 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8073019-007
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Owner Comments
This bill bears an image of a Wild Board Charging into a Spear with the Latin motto, "AUT MORS AUT VITA DECORA" which translates to, "Either Death or an Honorable Life".
This bill was signed by William Webb and Isaac Hazlehurst.
PMG has graded about fifty November 29, 1775, CC-14 bills with 50% receiving a grade of AU or better and 10% receiving an uncirculated grade. The November 29, 1775 $4 are the 78th rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
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February 17 1776 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$1/3 February 17, 1776 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG 64 |
| Cert #: |
1806122-069
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Owner Comments
The February 17, 1776 emission was authorized in Philadelphia, PA. The authorization provided for the emission of $4,000,000 in colonial bills. There are 12 denominations ranging from $1/6 to $8 a total of 3,182,613 bills were authorized.
Not surprisingly these are among the most common bills of the series. The fractional bills of the February 17,1776 emission account for about 13% of all graded continental bills. This is not surprising because there were 600,000 of each denomination authorized. The non-fractional denominations from this emission are more difficult to locate.
These popular bills feature Sundial with "Fugio" along with "Mind Your Business" logos on the face and a chain of 13 states on the back. The states are arranged with the northernmost state (Hew Hampshire), connecting the southernmost state (Georgia) with the logo, "We are One". This bill was signed by Issac Howell.
PMG has graded about one hundred and twenty five February 17, 1776, CC-20 bills with 20% receiving a grade of AU or better and 10% receiving an uncirculated grade. The February 17, 1776 $1/3 are the 99th rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
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| Slot: |
May 9 1776 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$7 May 9, 1776 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG 64 |
| Cert #: |
8073016-004
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Owner Comments
The May 9, 1776 emission was authorized in Philadelphia, PA. The authorization provided for the emission of $5,000,000 in colonial bills. There were 139,889 bills of each of 8 denominations ranging from $1 to $8 authorized in the May 9, 1776 Emission; a total of 1,119,112 bills.
This bill has an image of a severe storm at sea on the face along with the Latin motto, "SERENABIT" which translates to English as "It will be calm". This bill was signed by Thomas Coombe and Samuel Morris.
Bills from this emission are generally available in all grades with about one third of the graded bills achieving a grade of AU or better.
PMG has graded about forty five May 9, 1776, CC-37 bills with 50% receiving a grade of AU or better and 10% receiving an uncirculated grade. The May 9, 1776 $7 are the 74th rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
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July 22 1776 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$8 July 22, 1776 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG 64 |
| Cert #: |
1525627-004
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Owner Comments
The July 22, 1776 emission was authorized in Philadelphia, PA. The authorization provided for the emission of $5,000,000 in colonial bills. There were 83,611 bills of each of 8 denominations ranging from $2 to $8 and $30 authorized a total of 615, 384 bills.
This emission is another sleeper emission. Bills, especially the $2 and $3, are difficult to locate in higher grades. about one third of the bills submitted have received AU or better grades, but the total number evaluated by PMG is closer to the May 20, 1777 emission.
This bill features A harp with 13 strings of different sizes, representing the 13 colonies. The images is surrounded by the Latin motto, "MAJORA MINORIBUS CONSONANT" which translates to "The large colonies and the small colonies are in harmony". This bill was signed by John Sellers and Issac Pearson.
PMG has graded about twenty five July 22, 1776, CC-45 bills with 20% receiving a grade of AU or better and 10% receiving an uncirculated grade. The July 22, 1776 $8 are the 30th rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
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November 2 1776 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$7 November 2, 1776 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG 64 |
| Cert #: |
8012798-019
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Owner Comments
The November 2, 1776 emission was authorized in Philadelphia, PA. The authorization provided for the emission of $5,000,000 in colonial bills. There were 76,923 bills of each of 8 denominations ranging from $2 to $8 and $30 authorized; a total of 651,3848 bills.
This emission is the 5th scarcest in terms of graded bills, but AU and UNC bills do exist. With around 200 graded by PMG it is 3-4 times less common than the top three emissions.
This bill has an image of a severe storm at sea on the face along with the Latin motto, "SERENABIT" which translates to English as "It will be calm". Only the signature of Joshua Barney is readable on this bill.
PMG has graded about thirty November 2, 1776, CC-52 bills with 60% receiving a grade of AU or better and 20% receiving an uncirculated grade. The November 2, 1776 $7 are the 51st rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
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February 26 1777 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$6 February 26, 1777 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG 63 |
| Cert #: |
5013562-009
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Owner Comments
Six dollar Continental bills have an image of a beaver gnawing down a tree with the Latin Motto, "Preseverando" which translates as, "By Perseverance". This bill was signed by Samuel Stringer Coale and Rinaldo Johnson.
PMG has graded about twenty five February 26, 1777, CC-59 bills with 60% receiving a grade of AU or better and 20% receiving an uncirculated grade. The February 26, 1777 $6 are the 41st rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
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May 20 1777 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$8 May 20, 1777 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG AU 55 |
| Cert #: |
8073019-035
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Owner Comments
The May 20, 1777 emission is widely recognized as the second scarcest emission of Continental Currency. Like the Yorktown Emission these bills were heavily counterfeited and recalled early, accounting for the scarcity.
This emission was authorized in Philadelphia, PA. The authorization provided for the emission of $16,500,000 in colonial bills. There were about 253,850 bills of each of 9 denominations ranging from $2 to $8 and $30 authorized; a total of 2,030,738 bills.
Bills from this emission are as scarce as the Yorktown emission, although more uncirculated bills are known. PMG has graded about twenty May 20, 1777, CC-69 bills with 50% receiving a grade of AU or better and 20% receiving an uncirculated grade. The May 20, 1777 $8 are the 16th rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
This bill features A harp with 13 strings of different sizes, representing the 13 colonies. The images is surrounded by the Latin motto, "MAJORA MINORIBUS CONSONANT" which translates to "The large colonies and the small colonies are in harmony". This bill was signed by M. Hahn and J. Houston.
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April 11 1778 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$4 April 11, 1778 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG AU 58 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8073016-008
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Owner Comments
The Yorktown emission has long been recognized as the scarcest emission of the series. This emission was authorized by the Continental Congress in York, Pennsylvania. The Congress had fled to York to escape the British Army which was advancing on Philadelphia. This emission was heavily counterfeited and was recalled early, accounting for the scarcity.
The authorization provided for the emission of $25,000,000 in colonial bills. There were about 208,330 bills of each of 8 denominations: $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $20, $30 and $40. A total of 1,666,660 bills were authorized.
This is the scarcest emission of the entire series with just over 100 bills of all denominations graded by PMG. Of those about 40% are graded AU. Just one bill has received an uncirculated grade. This example is the finest graded by PMG.
This bill bears an image of a Wild Board Charging into a Spear with the Latin motto, "AUT MORS AUT VITA DECORA" which translates to, "Either Death or an Honorable Life". This bill was signed by D. Reintzel and S. Byrson.
PMG has graded about fifteen April 11, 1778, CC-71 bills with 30% receiving a grade of AU or better and none have received an uncirculated grade. The April 11, 1778 $4 are the 12th rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
Top Pop Bill
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| Slot: |
January 14 1779 |
| Item: |
Continental Currency
$80 January 14, 1779 Colonial Notes |
| Grade: |
PMG 64 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8074290-015
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Owner Comments
The January 14, 1779 emission was authorized in Philadelphia, PA. This is the most common emission of Continental Currency, although some of the individual bills can be challenging to locate in higher grades. The authorization provided for the emission of $95,051,695 in colonial bills. There were 16 denominations ranging from $1 to $80 authorized; a total of 2,295,426 bills.
Bills from this emission are generally available in all grades with about half of the graded bills achieving a grade of AU or better.
This bill represents the last bill of the set. This bill has an image of large tree surrounded by the Latin motto, "Et In Secula Seculorum Florescebit" which translates to English as "And it will Flourish for Ages and Ages". This bill was signed by William Gamble and Jedediah Snowden.
The emblems and mottoes used on the $35, $40, $45, $50, $60, $70, and $80 denominations were developed by Francis Hopkinson who, with his family, unsuccessfully sought compensation from the Continental Congress and the U.S. Congress for this work.
PMG has graded about fifty five January 14, 1779, CC-102 bills with 50% receiving a grade of AU or better and 10% receiving an uncirculated grade. The January 14, 1779 $80 are the 83rd rarest of the 102 bills in the series.
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