Currency

Object/Artifact

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Currency

Entry/Object ID

VC.2005.62

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 / The bearer is entitled to receive Four Spanish milled dollars, or an equal sum in Gold or silver, according to a Resolution of CONGRESS of the 14th January 1779 / FOUR DOLLARS"; Serial number is 64641(red ink);the two signatures are hard to read; watermark is "UNITED / STATES"; on back within a floral border cut is a nature print of skeletonized fruit and text "Printed by Hall & Sellers. 1779".

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Hall & Sellers

Date made

Jan 14, 1779

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

2-13/16 in

Width

3-5/8 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 2 13/16 x 3 5/8 in. (7.2 x 9.2 cm)

Material

Paper (laid), ink, mica flakes, blue threads, watermark

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Paper is dog-eared, folds along top border, and a center creaseline; Printing is clear; Discoloration by soiling and three dark straight lines.

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