1776

The Halifax Issue of 1776

The issue authorized by the colonial legislature at its session in Halifax beginning on April 2, 1776 is perhaps the most interesting of all. This was the same session that produced the Halifax Resolve, a step in the direction of independence.

The 1776 issue is believed to be printed from plates engraved by Baltimore silversmith Gabriel Lewyn. He had ample opportunity to demonstrate his skill. There were a total of 56 different designs and 17 different denominations from 1/16 dollar through $20. Some denominations had as many as 8 different designs. That a government claiming to serve the people could contribute such an overwhelming abundance of designs is difficult to imagine. How could the populace become familiar with good money and distinguish it from the bad when there were so many designs to encounter? I don’t think anyone knows the answer to this. As collectors, we can only appreciate the wide variety of specimens we might be able to collect. But if completeness is a goal, look elsewhere. For almost a year, I have scoured the Internet and searched all major online auctions for images of the 1776 series. I still have 19 notes for which I have not found a picture.

Let’s look at a few of the 1776 notes. The 6 dollar note (only two $6 designs) with the squirrel vignette is one of the more common survivors, and perhaps my favorite. It’s fairly typical of the series: “No Carolina� currency, no use of “province� as in some earlier issues. The denomination is in words not numbers, and in dollars, not the English system. The Halifax session is referenced. There is no promise to redeem in gold or silver, and no interest to be paid.

Not all the vignettes are as cute as the squirrel. One of the 6 1/16 dollar designs features a beetle. It’s not the only insect: But the butterfly, also on a 1/16 dollar design, holds more appeal. The bee and beehive each have an issue. Snakes occur on three designs. Fish receive recognition one might expect from a colony with such a rich coastal resource. There are notes showing the halibut, barracuda, sea urchin, and sculpin. Never mind about whether they are native to North Carolina waters. Other land animals include the beaver, owl, alligator, duck, hare, deer, crow, rooster, peacock, goat, boar, raccoon, thrush, steer, dog, lion and leopard. The plant world is underrepresented: There is only a vase of flowers and a sheaf of wheat. Other vignettes feature cupid, Nautilus, an eagle carrying broken arrows, monograms, and a few others.

The $7 1/2 note (only one design!) shows what is regarded as the first American Flag, an early flag of the Continental Congress known as the Congress Colors or the Grand Union Flag. Although notable, its term was brief. It was superseded by the Stars and Stripes in 1777.

Gallery of 1776 Notes

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