Currency

Object/Artifact

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Currency

Entry/Object ID

VC.2005.55

Description

A $4 Continental currency bill: front side has four cut borders; within a cut bordered emblem is a wild boar charging into a spear with the motto "Aut mors aut vita decora" (Either death or an honorable life); text is as follows-- "Four Dollars / This bill entitles the bearer to receive Four Spanish milled dollars, or the value thereof in Gold or silver, according to a Resolution of CONGRESS, passed at Philadelphia November 29,1775"; Serial number is 26--6 (red ink);the two signatures are hard to read; on back within a floral border cut is a nature print of skeletonized maple fruit and text "Printed by Hall & Sellers in Philadelphia. 1776".

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Hall & Sellers

Notes

Date made: November 29,1775

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

2-1/2 in

Width

3-3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 2 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. (6.4 x 9.6 cm)

Material

Paper (laid), ink, blue thread, mica flakes

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Paper is dog-eared, chipped, and has an irregular top border; Printing is clear with some missing areas along top border; Discoloration by spotting, soiling, and smudge marks.

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

Currency Collection from envelope found in closet at Bellwood library by Catalina Hannan about 2002-2003. Front of envelope is labeled "Genealogy: children of Pierre & Joanna Van Cortlandt / Pierre Van Cortland (sic) letter 2 Apr 1789". Upper left corner has an envelope return address "Bland Gallery Inc. / 45 East 57th Street / New York". Next to return address is written and then crossed out "Pedigree of desk-etc".

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Union Church, Storage, Shelf 14A

Note Type

Department

Note

Curatorial