The May 20, 1777 issue was the first series of Continental Currency to use new border cuts reading “UNITED STATES” where previous issues read “UNITED COLONIES”. Due to extensive British counterfeiting, this entire issue was recalled by 1779. The extensive counterfeiting and recall of these bills resulted in the May 20, 1777 being one of the most scarce and sought after Continental issues today, especially for genuine bills like this. The $4 note features an emblem of a boar charging a spear. This emblem is encircled by the Latin motto “AUT MORS AUT VITA DECORA” (Either death or an honorable life). The reverse features nature print of skeletonized maple fruit. Exceptional eye appeal for the grade and incredibly scarce with a fraction of the population of most Continental issues and usually one of the biggest hurdles in completing a Continental set. Populations of this issue rival those of the elusive Yorktown Continental series with only 37 examples of this $4 note known to exist. Fantastic VF example fortified by the evergreen sticker from GCC.
Signers: C. Lewis
The May 20, 1777 issue was the first series of Continental Currency to use new border cuts reading “UNITED STATES” where previous issues read “UNITED COLONIES”. Due to extensive British counterfeiting, this entire issue was recalled by 1779. The extensive counterfeiting and recall of these bills resulted in the May 20, 1777 being one of the most scarce and sought after Continental issues today, especially for genuine bills like this. The $4 note features an emblem of a boar charging a spear. This emblem is encircled by the Latin motto “AUT MORS AUT VITA DECORA” (Either death or an honorable life). The reverse features nature print of skeletonized maple fruit. Exceptional eye appeal for the grade and incredibly scarce with a fraction of the population of most Continental issues and usually one of the biggest hurdles in completing a Continental set. Populations of this issue rival those of the elusive Yorktown Continental series with only 37 examples of this $4 note known to exist. Fantastic VF example fortified by the evergreen sticker from GCC.
Signers: C. Lewis
Date: May 20, 1777
Denomination: $4
Friedberg #: CC-65
State: Continental
Certification: PMG & GCC
Grade: Very Fine 25, GCC Green
Comments: None
