Ten-shilling Soldier-use Currency, May 25, 1775. Boston: Paul Revere.
In the spring of 1775, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts needed to pay newly enlisted soldiers in the colonial army. Lacking sufficient funds, the Congress issued special soldiers’ notes as IOUs until it could raise money. They hired Boston silversmith Paul Revere to print the notes and closely supervised the process to prevent counterfeiting or circulation of unauthorized bills. Revere owned this unused bill and wrote on the back: “This was the Patern (sic) Bill Struck for the 26,000 £ Emission and can be of no use but to keep, it being the form and tenour (sic) thereof, that those who come after may see the same.”
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Publication / Creation Year
1775