Currency

Object/Artifact

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Currency

Entry/Object ID

VC.2005.59

Description

A $5 Continental currency bill: front side has four cut borders; within a cut bordered emblem is a bloody hand in a thorn bush with motto "SUSTINE VEL ABSTINE"*; text is as follows-- "FIVE DOLLARS / This bill entitles the Bearer to receive FIVE Spanish milled DOLLARS, or the Value thereof, in Gold or Silver, according to a Resolution of CONGRESS, passed at Philadelphia, July 22, 1776."; Serial number is "15271"(red ink); first signature is Wm Webb and the second is Thomas Leech; on back within a floral border cut is a nature print of leaves and text "PHILADELPHIA / Printed by Hall & Sellers 1776". *(Note: In B. Franklin "WRITINGS" ed. by J.A. Leo Lemay 1987 Franklin explains:"...we have a thorny bush, which a hand seems attempting to eradicate. The hand appears to bleed, as pricked by spines. The motto is, SUSTINE VEL ABSTINE; which may be redered, Bear with me, or let me alone; or thus, Either support or leave me. The bush I suppose to mean America, the bleeding hand Britian. Would to God that bleeding were stopt, the wounds of that hand healed, and its future operations directed by wisdom and equity; so shall the hawthorn flourish, and form an hedge around it, annoying with her thorns only its invading enemies."

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Hall & Sellers

Date made

Jul 22, 1776

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

2-7/8 in

Width

3-13/16 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 2 7/8 x 3 13/16 in. (7.3 x 9.7 cm)

Material

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

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Paper is chipped, dog-eared, tears at each end of center crease, and layer peeling at one corner; Printing is clear but missing in small spots; Discoloration by foxing and general soiling.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Wm Webb

Notes

Signer

Person or Organization

Thomas Leech

Notes

Signer

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