Continental Currency

Continental Currency - the First Declaration Of Independence?
A look through currency history by Mark Wilson


Early in 2007, The History channel aired a very interesting story and one that millions of viewer's watched. If you collect (or are considering to collect) Colonial or Continental currency, this article will give you an amazing perspective into this hobby.

Here is the actual advertisement for this show:
" Between the pages of a book, a family in Omaha, Nebraska has found a puzzling $6 bill dated February 17, 1776.
The bill’s text and designs are replete with mysteries and clues.
How could it claim to be federal currency when it’s dated five months before the colonies actually declared their independence?
Why does it say it’s backed by “Spanish milled dollars”?
What do the strange images on it mean?
Britain rightfully considered these monies sheer provocation, and reacted by flooding the market with counterfeit bills. Is our bill real – or perhaps real fakery?
History Detectives investigates an artifact that could represent America’s first declaration of its independence. "


Now, I will let that last sentence sink in for a moment.
The notion that this early American currency was in reality the very first Declaration Of Independence, is actually very accurate and it took an outsiders objective view to point this out to us.

I want to continue with this History Detectives story because it is an amazing perspective (and I will at a later date) but for now I need to interject a bit of important history and observations:

The formal Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776, which is common history to even an elementary school child. * It is important to note that as the elected President of Congress, John Hancock was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. It was not until the following month on August 2nd that the remaining 55 other delegates began to sign the document. However, this date symbolizes our Countries declaration that we are a unified and independent Nation. After all, do we not light up fireworks on the 4th of July?

But when did we really declare our independence? From the perspective of our colonial money it is very obvious that our early leaders declared this both secretly (at first in the symbols and Latin phrases on the currency) and then more boldly on the currency as the years wore on.


To understand the Revolutionary War that eventually won our freedom and independence, it will take some diligent study, as it lasted many years and was not over and done with on July 4th 1776.
You will find that it started much earlier. Some say in May, 1775 when Revolutionaries seized control of each of the thirteen colonial governments, set up the Second Continental Congress, and formed a Continental Army. But others say that it stared earlier, right after the first meeting of Congress that ended in October, 1774.
We do know that actual fighting began in the spring of 1775 and it lasted until 1783 (the last British troops left New York City on November 25, 1783). But I will let you do this research for yourself because their are many exciting stories that you will enjoy learning.


Back to the Currency...
You have to remember that there was no communications link as we have today, no TV, Radio, Internet, Fax, No AP News service, or even a postal service.
Bottom line: News traveled very slowly across our Colonies (with many areas left completely out of the loop) and was easily distorted.

A fantastic way to Communicate to the people was through currency.
Why? Well for starters, no one would dare throw it away. Money is money after all.
What an owner or editor may be afraid to print in their local newspaper (for fear of jail or being shut down), the printers of Colonial currency were well connected and protected.
Even anonymously posted broadside posters could be torn down and thrown away by British soldiers or sympathizers before having the desired impact.

So currency became a very successful advertising and communication means.


The first issue of Continental Currency was authorized by the Continental Congress resolution of May 10, 1775 and approved by resolutions of June 23-24 and July 25, 1775 and put into circulation in August of this same year. The money, for "The United Colonies", was to be used to pay war expenses and was to be redeemed from taxes collected by the colonies.
And we must understand that the printing of Continental Currency was considered an act of treason
By this time we were deep in the fighting and the currency was both an encouragement to the people and a bold declaration that we will not give up the fight.


Here are some examples:

* How serious were our forefathers?
"Exitus in dubio est" (The outcome is in doubt).
From the first issue of May 10, 1775 (and through the fourth issue of May 9, 1776) this symbol and motto was used exclusively on the $3 bill. It shows an oppressive Eagle on top of a Heron in the midst of a desperate fight. It has been recorded that the Eagle represents England and the United Colonies being the Heron (which is a type of crane). If you will notice closely, the Heron below is piercing the Eagles neck on these earlier printings, showing that the "New America", fighting for their freedoms, will draw blood (much like depicted on the $5 bill from this same series) unless compromises are made. This was a powerful statement in 1775, very offensive to the British.
But again, focus on the date of May 1775. This was more than a year prior to the creation of our Declaration of Independence.

With the July 22, 1776 issue of the $3 bill, the symbol image had changed ever so slightly but the change was a powerful one. A blow-up of these two images reveals clearly that this entire symbol was actually re-engraved with the express purpose of showing this subtle change. No longer is the Heron piercing the neck of the Eagle but it is clamping on, not letting go.
The meaning is clear: The United Colonies will not let go - will not give up and consequently, "The outcome is in doubt". All following printings had this changed image.
This new image was engraved just prior to the signing of the Declaration Of independence.


Besides the $3 bill just expounded upon, take a look at the $4 bill issued also on May 10, 1775. The emblem on the front shows a wild boar charging into a spear with the motto: "Aut mors aut vita decora" Which means "Either death or an honorable life". What they were telling both the Colonists and the British was that we will fight to the death. Now That is serious!

Or how about the $5 bill I mentioned earlier? Issued also on May 10, 1775, it has been stated that this is the most difficult emblem of the series to undersand. I respectfully disagree. To me the meaning is obvious in view of the $3 and $4 bill. The Latin motto is, SUSTINE VEL ABSTINE, which translates "Bear with me, or let me alone - get away" (our English words derived from this Latin are Sustain and Absent). The emblem shows a left hand (the British) attempting to grab a newly developing thorn bush (the united colonies). The hand is bleeding profusely.
Now I respect Ben Franklin but he did not create everything and he only made a guess-timent on this meaning, which has been handed down as fact. He wrote, "...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 rendered, Bear with me, or let me alone; or thus, Either support or leave me. The bush I suppose to mean America, the bleeding hand Britain. 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."
My rendering in modern English - Leave us in peace but if you try and uproot our new government, you will bleed!
Bottom line - Our forefathers were deadly serious!


* Perseverance and Encouragement!
The $6 bill issued also on May 10, 1775 was soley an encouragement to the people. The emblem on the front depicts a beaver gnawing down a tree with the Latin motto: "Perseverando" (By perseverance). Meaning that if a small Beaver can topple a tall tree, then we can defeat the British by perseverance.

And look at the $7 bill issued May 10, 1775. It shows a tremendous storm over a small town (church and homes) with the Latin phrase "Serenabit", meaning "It will clear up". Again, this bill was designed as an encouragement. To give the common person hope that if we persevere, we will win.

The $8 bill from this first issue is really interesting. Again, it is a message of perseverence and accord. The emblem on the front shows a harp with thirteen strings (representing the colonies) with the Latin motto: "Majora minoribus consonant", meaning The larger are in harmony with the smaller. We stand as one. *Note, this can also be a clear warning to the British that all thirteen colonies stand as one in this common cause.


** This article is a work in progress.
I will add to it weekly
Mark
Your IP Address is: 38.107.191.83
Copyright © 2010 Zen Cart. Powered by Zen Cart