| Description |
Continental Currency. July 22, 1776 $7 Newman 1.1 Contemporary Counterfeit Fr. CC-44CF. PCGS Very Fine 25. This is the first description of this variation of the issue. Note the use of a 3 instead of an S in SERENABIT. This is the only example known to us. A further survey of notes will need to be undertaken to determine if others exist. No. [illegible]. Printed on thin paper. Diagnostics: No serial number Newman 1.1: Engraved. On the face: In the motto, the S in SERENABIT is replaced by a 3, appearing as 3ERENABIT. The base of the V in the SEVEN to the right of the serial number is high. In the text, the s in entitles tilts too far right and its base is low. The P in SPANISH is open at the top right, so as to appear as an F. The second S in SPANISH tilts right. The top of the O in DOLLARS below the vignette is open so as to appear misspelled as DULLARS. Also, there is an extra space between the D and the open O or U. The back is in the wrong juxtaposition relative to the face. (The counterfeit bill, when turned horizontally from the face, has the stem of the leaf pointing upward toward the viewer's right, rather than downward toward the viewer's left on the genuine bill.) Contemporary counterfeit Continental Currency bills were typically printed one at a time from single engraved plates; the genuine bills were printed in sheets from typeset blocks of eight differently denominated bills of the same issue. Eric P. Newman notes that this single-bill printing method resulted in numerous occasions where the backs were mistakenly printed in the wrong juxtaposition relative to the face by the counterfeiters, as shown on this example. The note is well printed on both sides and is modestly circulated. Another interesting counterfeit. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
From Newman X (Heritage Auctions, November 2018), lot 20050, realized $360. |
