The 1760s through 1775
The 1760s through 1775
The five issues in this period, unlike the five issues that preceded them, are fairly common, except for that of 1775.
The first three issues—those of July 14, 1760, April 23, 1761, and December (5), 1768—are stylistically similar. Like other issues, they take their names from the date of the enabling legislation, and they display the date. The 1768 issue does not have the day in the date. Newman attributes the latter two issues as the work of printer James Davis. They are typeset, and each that this writer has seen has four signers. The 1760 and 1761 series exist in denominations from 4d through £3; the 1768 from 2s6d through £5. The smaller denominations are generally scarce to rare, and collecting an example of every denomination would be very challenging. But representative examples are readily available. None of the notes refers to a place name other than North Carolina.
With the December 1771 issue, the notes are again engraved. Neither the engraver nor the printer is identified by Newman. Each of the 10 different notes has an attractive vignette, and denominations range from 1s through £5. The 2s6d denomination has two designs. All ten examples are available, some common. The most popular is the £3 note with vignette of the Magna Charta, perhaps a sign of the quest for freedom that was to escalate to war in a few years.
There is a three-note uncut sheet that is common, and in high grade, reason unknown to this writer. The denominations are 2s6d (house vignette), £1, and 10s, and each is fully issued with serial number and all four signers. A nice example costs about $1400, and it is an attractive item.
All issues in this period known to the writer are uniface. Some of the 1771 issues are stamped on the back "I. Ashe," referring to John Ashe, Treasurer of the Southern District of North Carolina, or the hand-written "Montfort," for Joseph Montfort, Treasurer of the Northern District of North Carolina.
The last issue of this period is that of August 21, 1775, and this is an elusive issue. It is the first issue denominated in dollars, with nine denominations ranging from $1/4 through $10. The $1 note includes "12 united colonies" in the engraved vignette, referring the 12 states which had by that time sent a representative to the Continental Congress. Georgia had not yet joined the club. The $8 note has a vignette of Britannia stabbing herself.
| Issue | Number of Designs | Denomination Range | Place Names | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 14, 1760 | 12 | 4 pence - 3 pounds | Province of North-Carolina (hyphenated) | Typeset |
| April 23, 1761 | 15 | 4 pence - 3 pounds | North-Carolina (hyphenated) | Typeset; imprint James Davis |
| December 1768 | 7 | 2s 6p - 5 pounds | Province of North Carolina | Typeset; imprint James Davis |
| December 1771 | 10 | 1 shilling - 5 pounds | Province of North Carolina | Engraved |
| August 21, 1775 | 9 | $1/4 - $10 | No. Carolina; Hillsborough | Engraved; first issue denominated in dollars |
These are engraved notes, uniface, and make reference to Hillsborough, then the colonial capital. Newman identifies neither engraver nor printer. All denominations are difficult to find. Perhaps the $5 note with the vignette of Gov. Tryon's Palace in Newbern (the 1775 spelling) is the most common.