State of North Carolina Revolutionary War Note

Printed in North Carolina by James Davis, 1778. The text on the obverse reads "North Carolina Currency. Half a dollar. No. 34149 /State of North Carolina. This Bill intitles the Bearer to receive Half a Spanish milled Dollar, or the Value thereof in Gold or Silver, agreeable to an Act of Assembly passed at Hillsborough the 8th Day of August 1778." A decorative cartouche in the lower left reads "Behold! A new World!" Signed with an illegible signature. The reverse credits printer James Davis, repeating the date "1778."

Private North Carolina Collection

In 1749 James Davis (1721-1785) of Virginia operated the very first printing press in North Carolina. His work tried to meet the communications needs of a sparsely populated colony and continued on into the early post-Revolutionary period.

A 1-1/4 inch vertical split is in the lower right section of the note, extending upwards from the edge, through the signature, and stopping just above "August." Please direct any related questions or concerns to Rob.