This iconic note from the Massachusetts August 18, 1775 issue is known as a “Sword in Hand”. These bills were printed and engraved by Paul Revere. The front has ornate borders with a small oval vignette of a ship in front of a wharf house. The reverse features the famous vignette of a Minute Man holding a sword and the “Magna Charta”. This vignette is encircled by the motto “Issued in Defense of American Liberty” and “ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SUB LIBERTATE, QUIETEM” (By arms he seeks peace with freedom). Incredible mottos as tensions of the Revolution brewed. There was an error when engraving the due date within the text of the obverse, with many examples erroneously dated 1777. Earlier printings were corrected in pen, and later examples used re- plates. This note appears to have used one of the re-engraved plates as the “1779” due date in the middle of the text appears to not be retraced in pen but is bolder than the rest of the test. Lovely VF example with spectacular appeal and legibility throughout. Very low survivability, of the 10,000 originally printed, only 14 are known to survive today, mostly in low grade with problems. Exceptional note with rarity with an iconic design, and printed by an American legend. A highlight piece for any colonial collection.
Signers: Thomas Plympton, …
This iconic note from the Massachusetts August 18, 1775 issue is known as a “Sword in Hand”. These bills were printed and engraved by Paul Revere. The front has ornate borders with a small oval vignette of a ship in front of a wharf house. The reverse features the famous vignette of a Minute Man holding a sword and the “Magna Charta”. This vignette is encircled by the motto “Issued in Defense of American Liberty” and “ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SUB LIBERTATE, QUIETEM” (By arms he seeks peace with freedom). Incredible mottos as tensions of the Revolution brewed. There was an error when engraving the due date within the text of the obverse, with many examples erroneously dated 1777. Earlier printings were corrected in pen, and later examples used re- plates. This note appears to have used one of the re-engraved plates as the “1779” due date in the middle of the text appears to not be retraced in pen but is bolder than the rest of the test. Lovely VF example with spectacular appeal and legibility throughout. Very low survivability, of the 10,000 originally printed, only 14 are known to survive today, mostly in low grade with problems. Exceptional note with rarity with an iconic design, and printed by an American legend. A highlight piece for any colonial collection.
Signers: Thomas Plympton, …
