This iconic note from the Massachusetts December 7, 1775 issue is known as a “Sword in Hand”. These bills were printed by Paul Revere. Revere altered the engraved plates from the previous August 18, 1775 issue to accommodate the new date and denominations. Due to a printing error, these notes have been seen with denominations on the front and back not matching. This issue faced heavy British counterfeiting and interestingly, a counterfeit plate for notes of this issue was found in Montrose, Scotland. The front features detailed borders and a ship vignette at the bottom left. The reverse features a sensational vignette of a Minute Man holding a sword and the “Magna Charta”. Although there is a piece missing, decent legibility remains throughout, especially on the reverse. Very low survivability, of the 6,250 originally printed, only 8 are known to survive today. Exceptional note with rarity, an iconic design, and printed by an American legend.
This iconic note from the Massachusetts December 7, 1775 issue is known as a “Sword in Hand”. These bills were printed by Paul Revere. Revere altered the engraved plates from the previous August 18, 1775 issue to accommodate the new date and denominations. Due to a printing error, these notes have been seen with denominations on the front and back not matching. This issue faced heavy British counterfeiting and interestingly, a counterfeit plate for notes of this issue was found in Montrose, Scotland. The front features detailed borders and a ship vignette at the bottom left. The reverse features a sensational vignette of a Minute Man holding a sword and the “Magna Charta”. Although there is a piece missing, decent legibility remains throughout, especially on the reverse. Very low survivability, of the 6,250 originally printed, only 8 are known to survive today. Exceptional note with rarity, an iconic design, and printed by an American legend.
Date: December 7, 1775
Denomination: 4 Shillings, 6 Pence
Friedberg #: MA-180
State: Massachusetts
Certification: PCGS
Grade: Good 6
Comments: “Piece Missing, Pinholes”
