Behold! A New World! - A Rare NC Revolutionary War Note
"Here, we offer a tangible memento of this place [North Carolina], in those times [1778], to some very lucky bidder." - Rob Golan, Rare Coins Director, AAA, ISA AM
It is always our pleasure to present an auction of important coins and currency for our collectors. There is one piece of currency within the United States Coins at Auction, however, that really comes home to those of us who live and work in North Carolina. This object, a small “half a dollar,” or more specifically, a State of North Carolina Revolutionary War Note, which "...intitles (sic) the Bearer to receive Half a Spanish milled Dollar, or the Value thereof in Gold or Silver..." was printed locally by James Davis (1721-1785) in 1778.
Born in Virginia, James Davis came to the Colony of North Carolina in 1749, and that year set up the very first printing press in New Bern. During the Revolutionary War, Davis received a commission from North Carolina’s General Assembly, then seated in New Bern, to print the laws and legislative documents associated with the new government. One of the first jobs given to him was to print legal paper money. While Davis was not responsible for engraving the copper plates, he printed them onto paper using his printing press. By 1778, the North Carolina General Assembly had moved to meet in Hillsborough and passed an official act that year to print more money, which resulted in this note.
State of North Carolina Revolutionary War Note
Aside from government commissions, James Davis established and printed the first newspaper in North Carolina, the North-Carolina Gazette. He was appointed as the first postmaster in the state, served as Justice of the Peace in New Bern, and was a member of the Council of State. Throughout the decades, his work served to meet the communication needs of a sparsely populated colony, continued during the Revolutionary War, and on into the early post-Revolutionary period.
In this auction, we offer a tangible memento of this place, in those times, to some very lucky bidder. In addition to the Davis note, we have a nice run of 35 certified pre-1933 American gold coins, literally hundreds of silver dollars and some choice individual coins. Explore all of the lots being offered in our United States Coins at Auction, which opens for live-online bidding on Friday, September 26th at 10:00 am. Pre-bidding is available now.
United States Coins at Auction
September 26th at 10:00 am ET
September 26th at 10:00 am ET
