Collecting colonial notes is an amazing tutorial experience. It is a wonderful set of information. You learn a great deal about the formation of our country. You are exposed to several autographs of our nation’s founders. Many of the notes were signed by signers of the Declaration of Independence, officials of various colonies, and other famous Americans. Ben Franklin printed numerous notes. Paul Revere printed notes. I will show notes from both of these patriots later in this article. Many notes have been encased, but not my complete set of Elephant notes.
The best information available can be found in Eric Newman’s book, The Early Paper Money of America. All the editions offer superior information; they generally only differ in pricing. I was privileged to talk with Eric at his museum in St. Louis some years ago. I mentioned to him that some dealers had told me the prices were too low. Eric replied that he did not care about the prices, as someone else did the pricing.
These notes are extremely interesting and offer genuine pleasure in collecting them. I have to recommend this category of collecting as the most fun I have had in my collecting efforts. Check these notes out and see which ones appeal to you.
This 10-shilling note from May 1, 1759, has not been encased; only two of this Ben Franklin issue have been encapsulated. It is in low grade, as are many colonial notes. It is from Delaware, the Colony with the lowest number of graded notes. Bill Brandimore
The New York ten-dollar note 1775 is from the colony with the most known graded notes. Bill Brandimore
This is a little bear from North Carolina. The little bear represents the constellation of Ursa Minor, and the dots are the stars of that constellation. Bill Brandimore
Sword in Hand note by Paul Revere for Massachusetts. This note is scarce but is a notable example of Revere’s work. Bill Brandimore
This Georgia note is from confiscations made from seized Loyalist properties. It is signed by William Few, a signer of the U.S. Constitution. It was also once in the collection of Sportscaster Chris Shenkel. Bill Brandimore
The South Carolina note shows Prometheus's punishment for giving humanity the gift of fire. Colonial notes were rich in ancient Greek mythology. Bill Brandimore
Another interesting colony is Virginia. Many Virginia notes are all texts of information without interesting illustrations. There is, however, a group of exciting female warrior notes showing armed female Amazons, obviously prepared to fight for freedom. Bill Brandimore
Many of the New Jersey notes are a colorful red with interesting blue highlights. The blue is Prussian blue, and the black ink used for the signatures is composed of iron-gall ink. Altogether the colors are impressive and make for an extremely attractive note. John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is found on some of the New Jersey notes. Bill Brandimore
Perhaps the most difficult colony for me to find was New Hampshire. They are scarce, and most of them are hole-cut canceled. Bill Brandimore
Pennsylvania offers a wide host of interesting notes. I chose a note illustrated by a building. It is a five-pound note, showing the Workhouse, the Philadelphia City Jail, and the text above and below the building is upside down. Bill Brandimore
One of the remaining three colonies, Connecticut notes seem to show grapes. It is a common, easy-to-find note. Bill Brandimore
Rhode Island is the easiest to find a note. This one has a nautical look, matching the colony’s geography. Bill Brandimore
Maryland is the last note in this article, and it offers several Military figures flanking what appears to be the colony's seal. Bill Brandimore
