Name/Title
1779 eighty dollar billsEntry/Object ID
2024.20.31.01Description
This Continental Currency eighty dollar bill shows a lot of wear. It’s easy to picture this small (only 3 by 3.75 inches) piece of paper passed from hand to hand in the early 19th century, leaving some of the the printing very faint.
It looks like five printing blocks were used by the firm of Hall and Sellers in Philadelphia to create the bill. The four blocks around the edge repeat “United States of America” and “eighty dollars”. In fact, “eighty dollars” is repeated seven times on the face of the bill, eliminating any confusion about its worth.
The central block includes a handwritten number for this specific bill, and the original handwritten signature of John Read, but the usual second signature has worn off— only a ghost remains. A statement says, “The bearer is entitled to receive eighty Spanish milled dollars, or an equivalent in gold or silver, according to a Resolution of Congress of the 14th January, 1779.” That date means the bill was issued in that year.
Also, encircling an image of an oak tree, the Latin phrase “Et In Secula Seculorum Florescebit” appears, which translates to: “And it will flourish throughout the ages”. This probably refers to the hope that our country would survive. Finally, the face of the bill has a a rectangle and a square of red ink superimposed on it, perhaps an anti-counterfeiting tactic?
The reverse of the bill also uses five blocks to repeat the denomination and the date, and includes the printers’ names. On Continental Currency, different leaves appeared on the backs of bills of different denominations. Since every leaf is unique, it was an anti-counterfeiting device that was initiated by Benjamin Franklin. Interestingly, the back of this bill has the image of a veiny strawberry leaf.Made/Created
Bureau
Continental CongressDate made
Jan 1779Place of Origin
City
YorkState/Province
PennsylvaniaContinent
North AmericaDesigner or Engraver
Hall & SellersBanknote Details
Banknote Type
National Bank NoteCurrency
United States DollarDenomination
EightyObverse
Transcription
The bearer is entitled to receive eighty Spanish milled dollars, or an equivalent in gold or silver, according to a Resolution of Congress of the 14th January, 1779Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
handwrittenLocation
backTranscription
"Wm [William] Baker"Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Money, PaperNomenclature Primary Object Term
MoneyNomenclature Class
Exchange MediaNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsGetty AAT
Concept
money (objects), paper moneyLOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
CurrencyLocation
Location
Container
Display Case 104Room
Charles Whipple Greene Historical CollectionBuilding
George Hail Free LibraryDate
May 6, 2025Notes
These two bills are encased in FRAME 2Location
Room
Charles Whipple Greene Historical CollectionBuilding
George Hail Free LibraryDate
October 31, 2024Provenance
Notes
Based on card found in Historical Card Catalog, this item may have been gifted by William Baker.Exhibition
Warren During the Revolutionary WarCreate Date
October 31, 2024Update Date
July 17, 2025
