Age of Expansion and Revolution: 1600-1800

Transcription

Artifact Catalog 1600AD – 1799AD: Fall 2007
Taylor University Archives
Artifact Catalog
Age of Expansion and Revolution
1600 A.D. - 1799 A.D.
Hogge Shilling (copy)
1616
Region: Sommer Islands (now known as Bermuda)
Material: Originals: Bronze with a silver wash. This is a silver-colored metal alloy
Description: Early monies were difficult to come by in the New World. Most often, the
metal bullion that was extracted was sent straight home to the mother country to
assist in paying debts and enriching the treasury. In 1616, in a bid to help trade
on the Bermuda Islands, James I of England permitted a mint to open there to
make bronze currency for use one those islands only. Featuring a hog on the front
with the legend ―Sommer Islands‖ and a ship on the back, these coins were
crudely made, and rare today.
Edward Schramm Collection
New England Coinage (Copy)
1652
Region: Colonial America, New England
Material: Original: Silver
Description: During the Civil War and Commonwealth of England, the colonists of
America were short of silver and gold coin. Most of their economy was based on
barter, or using some unit of goods (generally tobacco) as currency. Due to the
confusion in the home country, the General Court of the Colonies ordered the first
metallic coins to be struck in the New World. These were never intended to go
abroad. These first shillings were simple silver coins to weigh 72 grains of fine
1Archives Artifact Catalog: Age of Expansion and Revolution 1600-1799
To see items, call 998-5520 or email: rbhughes@taylor.edu
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silver and stamped N.E. in the front (New England) and ―XII‖ on the back
(shillings were worth about twelve pence at the time). This coin was produced for
only a short time, as clipping and counterfeiting were easy to do. The legislature
ordered a new shilling with patterns made to stop these problems.
Willow Tree Schilling
1652-1659
Region: New England (Massachusetts)
Material: Silver
Description: Following the three-month tenure of the New England Shilling, the Willow
Tree Shilling was legislated by the Massachusetts General Court. On the Obverse
is featured a Willow Tree with the words ―Massachusetts in‖ and on the back was
the years 1652, the denomination (XII) and the legend New England An. Dom.
The year 1652 was used for the entire run of coins, regardless of year actually
minted. Our copy is very worn and hard to read and may be authentic.
Lord Baltimore Shilling (copy)
1658
Region: England, Maryland
Materials: Originals, sterling silver
Description: After re-asserting his rights as the governor and Lord Proprietor of
Maryland, George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, petitioned the new king Charles II to
give him all the rights of ―the Bishop of Durham‖ concerning his colony subject
to the approval of the populace. These ―rights‖ did not specifically mention nor
prohibit issuing coinage, but since issuing coins had been in the original Virginia
Charter, Lord Baltimore took that to mean he could too. His coins were minted at
the Tower of London Mint and were considerably less silver than the standard
English Pound of the time. They were of dubious legality because not only were
they less pure, and 30% lighter than the coins of similar worth in England, but
were ―illegally‖ shipped to the colonies (only copper monies were legally allowed
to be exported, not silver). However, the colonists gladly took these coins, and
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were told they were not to leave Maryland. This copies are greatly worn, but you
can still see the profile of Lord Baltimore, and the personal seal of his family line
which is today seen in the Maryland State Flag
Oak Tree Shilling (Copy)
1660-1667
Region: Colonial America, Massachusetts
Material: Silver
Description: Following the re-instatement of the Monarchy in 1660, is suddenly became
illegal for the colonists to mint their own coins, by order of the new king, Charles
II. Undaunted, and knowing that they would never be sent the amount of coins
nor bullion that they needed for their own use, the colonists continued to print
coins, though they all bore the date 1652. Since there technically was no
monarchy in 1652, any coin printed during the commonwealth fell into a neat hole
that made them ―legal‖. But the colonists could not put Charles’ face on the coins
(which would prove the counterfeiting) so they put a new tree, the Oak, on the
face. Charles had supposedly hidden in an oak tree following the disastrous
Battle of Worchester in 1651, and when Charles was shown one of these coins in
1662, Sir Thomas Temple claimed that the colonists had put that tree there, in
honor of the same that had saved his Majesty’s life. Charles reputedly laughed
and called the colonists ―a parcel of honest dogs‖ rather than traitors—which they
were.
Pine Tree Shilling
1667-1682
Region: New England, Massachusetts
Material: Silver
Description: The pine tree shilling, bearing the loophole date 1652 like it’s sisters,
began to be minted around 1667. Minting of this series of coins ceased altogether
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in 1682 because King Charles II began a serious investigation into allegations that
minting was ongoing.
The New England Shilling, Willow, Oak, and Pine Tree Shillings are all packaged
in presentation format
St. Patrick Coin (copy)
1681
Region: New England, New Jersey
Material: Silver
Description: Mark Newby (or Newbie) came to America around 1681 with a large
amount of these St. Patrick’s coins with him. The General Free Assembly of New
Jersey granted these coins legal tender status at the rate of a half-penny to replace
wampum as small change. These coins ended up being so useful and well-used
that they continued to show up in pocket change in New Jersey until the early 19th
century. It is unknown exactly when these coins were minted in Ireland, but
several similar varieties have been recovered from shipwrecks dated in the 1670s.
William III Treasury Warrant
1695, 4 March
Region: England
Material: Paper, encapsulated
Description: Treasury warrant signed by William III of England. Payment to be
dispersed to six people for various reasons: back salaries, gifts of various
amounts.
James DeWeerd Collection DW.1966.11
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Only the two-pence coin is shown here. The one-pence (penny) coin in our collection is similar is design, but nearly
half-size)
Rosa Americana Coins (2 Pence, 1 Pence)
1723
Region: Colonial America
Material: Copper
Description: William Wood, an Englishman, managed to get a patent from the new king
George I of England to produce coins for the colonies. He was allowed to make
coins in pence, half-penny, penny, and two pence (penny) amounts. However,
due to several financial misfortunes, he was forced to mint coins much lighter
than originally intended. These coins were so light, that the colonists of
Massachusetts voted to actually print £500 in paper money, rather than accept
these coins. They were used, grudgingly perhaps by some colonists, and two of
these coins were recovered at Colonial Williamsburg digs. William Wood,
unable to make a profit with these coins, stopped making them a year later.
Higley or Granby Coppers (Copy)
1737
Region: Colonial America, Connecticut
Material: Copper
Description: Dr. Samuel Higley owned a copper mine in Granby Connecticut. The
copper in the mine was extraordinarily fine and pure, and most of it was shipped
to England. However, back in Connecticut, Dr. Higley became frustrated at the
scarcity of official coinage that he began to make his own. Though smaller and
lighter than similar coins of the same time period, they were pure copper rather
than an alloy. The original legend stated the coins were valued at ―three-pence‖.
Merchants and other people objected to the legend since Higley had not been
patented or licensed to create monies of any kind, that he changed the legend to
―Value me as you please‖ and on the Reverse ―I am Good Copper‖. Since the
economy was still based on a metals standard, these coins were valuable as units
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of metal to be sold on the open market. (Higley did not give up however, for a
Roman Numeral ―III’ can be seen beneath the deer.) The copper that made up
these coins was so pure and widely sought that even as late as 1810 by goldsmiths
for use in alloying.
Royal Garrison Budget
ca. 1743-1754:
Region: England
Materials: Paper, encapsulated
Description: Budget for the Establishment of a garrison and governing body on
Gibraltar. Signed by King George II, Prime Minister Henry Pelham and Naval
Treasurer George Grenville and one other (―J. Campbell‖). Gibraltar was won from
Spain during War of Spanish Succession in 1704.
SPANISH MONIES IN THE AMERICAS
(The following is a break from the chronological set-up of this catalog because
several of the reales and dollars in the Schramm Collection are from various years, this
will cover denominations and uses.)
Spanish Dollar (Real) a.k.a. Piece of Eight
1746
Region: Spanish Colonies, American Colonies
Material: Silver
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Description: The Spanish were the first to establish a mint in the New World, at Mexico
City in 1536. (Later at Potosi, Bolivia and Lima, Peru in the 1700s.) The coin
minted would take local mined silver and convert it into cobs. These Cobs were
formed by rolling the refined silver into cylinders and cutting off cross-pieces
(cobs) which would then be further trimmed until they weighed a certain amount
(depending on the coin to be produced). They would then be stamped by hand
using stamps and hammers. These coins were not really meant to be used a
currency, simply a means of accounting for how much silver was being mined for
the king’s benefit (he was entitled to 20% of all silver in the Americas, called the
―Royal Fifth‖). Once in the Old World, these Cobs were commonly melted down
and made into something more portable. Most cobs now recovered come from
shipwrecks. However, the colonists in Spanish-owned and English-owned
Colonies used these coins as currency. Since they were pure silver, they could be
cut into pie-shaped wedges for change if necessary. Usually, they were cut into
eight pieces—hence the nickname ―Pieces of Eight‖. Our Piece of eight was
minted in 1746, and shows much wear and tear. The Obverse features a portion
of the Royal Heraldry, and one can make out the Lion of Leòn, the Castle of
Castille and the Roman Numeral ―V‖. This side has also been clearly doublestruck, leading to a ―ghosting‖ of the image. (Possibly for Philip V of the House
of Bourbon). The back features the full coat of arms, and the letter ―P‖ which
would be one of the assayer’s initials. Similar cobs to this have been pulled from
the wreck of the Atocha.
(Pictured here is the 1746 four-Reale coin)
Spanish Four Reals (Half-Dollar or four bits)
1746, 1753
Region: Spanish and American Colonies
Material: Silver
Description: Not quite half the size of the full dollar, this cob has similar markings to
the full dollar. It is dated to 1746 and could be minted on behalf of Philip V or
Ferdinand VI. The Obverse shows the same type of partial-royal seal as the full
dollar, but also shows a fingerprint that has been etched into the silver. The
Reverse again has the royal heraldry on it and it is possible to see the signs of
Castille, Leòn, Grenada, Aragon, and Sicily on it, along with a fragment of the
royal crown.
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(The 1740 Lima Mint Two-Bit Coin Shown here)
Spanish Two Real (Quarter Dollar, or 2 bits)
1706, 1727, 1733, 1740
Material: Silver
Description: Manufactured the same way as the larger denominations in this series. The
1706 and 1727 coins are from the Potosi Mint and the 1740 is from the Lima
Mint.(which makes them more rare than coins struck at the Mexico City Mint).
All four of these coins are very worn and the 1733 coin, shows fantastic metal
stress fractures from the hammer strike that marked the coins. These coins feature
the ―Pillars of Hercules‖ with a numeral ―2‖ between them (coin’s value) along
with sections for the Assayer’s initials, the year, the Mint it was manufactured at.
(Pictured here is the one-reale piece. One of the one-half pieces is much lighter, but similar overall. The
other one-half piece has been cut in half from the original)
Spanish One Reale and one-half Reale
Ca. 1740
Material: Silver
Description: Smaller and still less detailed than the others, these coins are marked as
one-bit or one reale pieces. They come from the Bourbon dynasty of Spanish
kings, because the lower half of their heraldry is stamped on the back. One of the
one-half pieces is literally cut in half from the whole, showing how pieces of eight
and their denominations were sometimes literally used. These pieces were made
in the Mexico City mint, as evidenced by the Florenzada cross on the obverse. (A
cross with flared ends, and a ball set in the center of the flare.)
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Spanish Pillar Dollar
1753
Region: Spain and Colonies
Material: Silver
Description: In 1732, the Mexico City mint started to produce ―Pillar Dollars‖. These
dollars we milled as planchets on machine before stamping, leading to a perfectly
consistent weight and size. Once milled and weighed, they were stamped in a
special device that held the edge of the coin while stamping, as well as imprinting
a security design on the edge (to prevent clipping). These consistent, beautifully
designed and struck coins were never made outside of the New World, and due to
that consistency, they quickly became a standard coin for use throughout the New
World and the trading circles. Indeed, when the Americans had to decide how to
base their new currency after the Revolution, they chose to base their new monies
on the Spanish Dollar (the international currency of the time) rather than the
―familiar‖ system of pounds, shillings, ect. The Spanish Pillar Dollar was legal
currency for many years, even until the late 19th century. Our Spanish dollar was
minted in 1753, is still in beautiful condition, with the mint marks, assayer’s
marks, and the legend clear and distinct.
Virginia ½ penny (Copy)
1763
Region: colonial America
Material: Original: Copper
Description: Although the 1609 Virginia Charter allowed Virginians to mint coins or
petition to mint coins, they did not take advantage of that clause until 1773. At
that time, the Virginia Assembly authorized the minting of a half-penny at Tower
Mint in London. Nearly five tons of these coins were shipped ot Virginia, but
were kept under lock and key until Royal permission was secured to distribute
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them in early 1775. Then, the coins were allowed to be exchanged for any and all
gold, silver or Treasury notes a person had. Shortly after the disbursement, the
Revolutionary War broke out, and the coins became even more valuable, and
Virginians hoarded them. Evidence shows that these coins continued circulation
even after the War, and nearly half of the coins excavated at Colonial
Williamsburg are the Virginia halfpence.
Massachusetts Pine Tree Pattern (Copy)
1776
Region: Colonial America Massachusetts
Material:
Description: This coin was never put into circulation. After the revolution, three
patterns were proposed to the Massachusetts Assembly. This was the pattern for
the dollar coin (you can see the 1 D L M around the trunk of the pine tree: short
for 1 Dollar Lawful Money). The patterns for all the proposed coins were
attributed to Paul Revere, both because of the skillful close lettering that he was
known for and the figure of Seated Liberty, which he encouraged the use of, and
which features prominently in all three patterns.
The “Janus” Half-penny (Copy)
1776
Region: Colonial America, Massachusetts
Material:
Description: This penny was discovered with the copper engraved plates and noted the
Paul Revere had made while trying to design a national or at least, State-wide
currency. There is only one like it, and again, features similar lettering and the
figure of the seated goddess Liberty.
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Continental Currency
1778
Region: United States
Description: Continental Currency. Issued by the Continental Congress of Philadelphia,
this $60 is the largest denomination printed in the aftermath of the Revolutionary
War. This is authentic currency, and the signatures of the people who authorized
it is clearly seen, along with the hand-written date above on the obverse of the
dollar. So many of these dollars were issued to try to re-pay all debts that they
became practically worthless, hence the saying: ―Not worth a Continental‖.
(Left to Right: A sampling of Colonial and early American currency copies, center: detail of Georgia
Currency. Right: Detail of New Hampshire Currency with hold indicating its redemption)
State Currencies (Copies)
1778-1780
Materials: Paper
Description: These copies of various state currencies issued during and after the
Revolutionary war. Most of these are certificates allowing the carrier to redeem
these pieces of paper for it’s written amount in gold or silver. However, precious
metal bullion was so scarce, that they could rarely be redeemed. Thus, the gold
and silver coins because worth more than their paper counterparts.
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1780 (unknown when this specimen was struck)
Maria Theresa Thaler
Region: Austrian-Hungarian Empire
Material: Originally Silver
Description: This is the longest continuously struck and circulated coin in the world.
Originally struck between 1740 and 1780, this coin was the first to open up major
trading with the Arabs. When Maria Theresa died in 1780, her son and heir
Joseph II, minted some coins with him image, but they were not accepted in the
Middle Eastern World, which wanted the Maria Theresa Thalers. Joseph II
consequently minted more, and the coin has never been out of circulation since. It
has, at times, served as the basis of economies in the Middle East and northern
Africa. The Thaler is printed more or less the same as the original, making
deciphering an exact strike date for an individual coin very difficult. Though
Austria retired the coin from their economy in 1857, the Vienna mint still makes a
few every year, and it is not uncommon to find them still traded in certain African
and Middle Eastern bazaars. Our coin is in near-perfect condition.
Nova Constellatio Copper (possible copies)
1783
Material: Copper
Description: The patterns for these coins were ordered by the American Congress, but
subsequently rejected. Gouverneur Morris, Assistant Financier of the
Confederation, recognized the need for small copper change to be circulating in
the new country and arranged a partnership with the designer, Boenjamin Dudley.
They could make and distribute these coins much more cheaply than they would
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cost on the open market, and could use them as currency and to help stop the
flood of counterfeit British lightweight coins that were causing a problem in the
market. As heavier copper tokens were created and distributed in the 1780’s these
coins were removed from circulation.
Connecticut Cents (two in collection)
1783
Region: Colonial America, Connecticut
Material: Copper
Description: This coin came about when Samuel Bishop, James Hillhouse, John
Goodrich and Joseph Hopkins petitioned the General Assembly of Connecticut
for the privilege of minting copper coins. After reviewing the petition, and the
trouble the citizens of Connecticut with the light weight copper change available,
the assembly authorized the men to mint £10,000 of copper coins weighing six
pennyweight a piece. They were to have a man’s head in profile on the obverse
with the legend AVCTORI : CONNEC and the reverse to have a portrait of seated
Liberty with the legend INDE : ET . LIB : 1785. The minters were given five
years and six months to complete the contract, and they were allowed to keep a
total of five percent of all coppers minted as their fee. A few days after this
decree the General Assembly issue another one: it was now illegal to mint copper
coins without first receiving permission from the Assembly.
Revolutionary War Paymaster Slip
1783
Description: Paymaster slip for Timothy Pickering of the Army to be paid $48.54 for
forage rations. This was during the Revolutionary War.
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New Jersey Copper
1787
Region: Colonial America, New Jersey\
Material: Copper
Description: The New Jersey Colonial legislature granted Thomas Goadsy, Albion Cox,
and Walter Mould the authority to coin some three million copper coins that
would weigh six pennyweight and six grains a piece. The front was to depict a
horse’s head over a plow with the legend ―NOVA CÆ SAREA‖ and the back to
depict an American shield with the Legend ―E Pluribus Unum.‖ This makes the
New Jersey Copper the first coin to bear the national motto. Nova Caesarea
comes from the name of New Jersey. The name for the English island of Jersey
was Caeserea (Cesar’s Island) therefore, New Jersey was, in Latin, Nova
Caesarea. While the coppers were eventually minted and distributed to the
populace, the three partners turned against each other with vicious lawsuit
bickering over site choosing, tool stealing and stealing Connecticut coppers to reprint as New Jersey (a profit of 200% more than minting the planchets oneself).
Massachusetts Penny (two in collection)
1788
Material: Copper
Description: In 1786, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passes a resolution for
establishing a mint to be able to mint coins of ―gold, silver, and copper‖. After
adding up the costs of building, men and materials, the government realized it
could recoup and double it’s investment in only one year, and ordered a series of
copper pennies and half-pennies to be made. However, the actual costs of the
build far outstripped the initial estimates and the committee had forgotten to
factor in the cost of the dies in the original figures. Rather than making a profit,
the Government went a further £2,000 in debt. The mint was closed after the last
of the copper was minted. These coins were well received by the populace and
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remained in circulation for quite some time. They were also the only coins (and
the only mint) to conform to the new Federal Resolution of July 6, 1785 that
established the ratio of 100 cents to the Spanish Milled Dollar. After the mint
closed, in 1789, negotiations began with John May to re-open the mint under his
authority. These stopped when it became clear that article one, section eight,
paragraph five of the Constitution (ratified by Massachusetts in 1788) put minting
coins under the federal jurisdiction, not the states. Our coins are pennies, and are
identical to half-pennies in everything except weight. The Obverse features an
Indian with the legend ―Common*Wealth‖ and the Reverse features a familiarlooking eagle holding arrows and olive branch in his talons. The legend reads
―Massachusetts‖. Fair Detail.
Fugio Cents
1787
Material: Copper
Description: These pennies were the first coins minted by the Federal Government. AT
the time, lightweight and counterfeit coppers were rampant throughout the
country, and damaging the economy. Every time a workman or business had to
accept the light-weight pennies, they lost money since many merchants would not
accept them (or would accept them at a rate far below face value). Congress
passed a resolution on April 21, 1787 to contract for a national copper. Two
months later, they decided on a design, The Obverse would feature a sun and
sundial with the legend ―Fugio‖ (I fly), the date and ―Mind your Business‖. The
Reverse would feature a chain of thirteen links and the central legend of ―United
States: We are One‖. These designs and mottos were the work of Benjamin
Franklin, and an alternative name for this coin is the ―Franklin Cent‖. Like the
Massachusetts penny minting at the same time, the Fugio pennies were to weigh
157.5 grains a piece and be valued at 1/100 a Spanish Milled Dollar.
Unscrupulous practices led to many state pennies to be minted underweight with
federal copper. Our coins are in good condition, though obviously worn. The
―Mind Your Business‖ is nearly worn off the Obverse.
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John Wesley Letter with 1836 Commentary
1788, September 1
Region: England
Materials: Paper, attached to another paper, enveloped but not sealed in mylar
Description: Letter from John Wesley to his Niece Sally comforting her after the death
of her father Charles Wesley. According to a note attached to the letter by an
unknown person ―E.J.J‖ in 1836, the note was accompanied by a £90 note to
allow Sally to go to the sea for her health and rest.
Republic of France Warrant
1795
Region: Republic of France:
Description: Commission by the French Government to a certain individual dated 1795
(paper actually dated by Revolutionary dates: year 7) signed by Dupin, Thibault
and Fauvre de Bruniere. (Bruniere signed the death warrant for King Louis XVI)
French, transcription available, not translated. (Translation in progress)
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Talbot, Allum and Lee Cents
1794
Material: Copper
Description: William Talbot, William Allum, and James lee joined forces in 1794 to
open an East India Trading Company based out of New York City in 1794. They
ordered two tons of trading ―tokens‖ to be minted in Birmingham England and
shipped to New York. These tokens are the first international trading tokens
based out of America. The Obverse features a standing liberty in the French
Fashion, with the legend ―Liberty * Commerce‖ and the date. The reverse on the
pennies featured a ship with the legend ―Talbott, Allum, & Lee: New York. One
Cent‖. There were so many however, that the company could not accommodate
them all. 1,076 pounds of these coins were sold to the Philadelphia mint to
become planchets for the 1795 half-pennies. When the firm dissolved in 1796,
the Philadelphia mint bought the rest of the coppers for their own use.
Francis II Kronenthaler
1796
Region: Holy Roman Empire
Material: Silver
Description: This coin was issued by the last Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II of the
Hapsburg-Lorraine line. The Obverse features Francis in profile, wearing a
diadem of olive leaves with the legend that when translated and expanded reads
―Francis II by the grace of God, Emperor of the Romans, Ever Supreme, King of
Jerusalem, Hungary and Bohemia.‖ The back features a St. Andrews Cross with
three crowns in the upper quarters and the Order of the Golden Fleece (of which
Francis II was a member) suspended beneath. These crowns are featured on the
Hapsburg-Lorraine Coat of Arms and the top one is the crown of Austria, the
right one is the crown of Bohemia. The left is still unidentified, but may be the
Crown of Charlemagne or the Closed Tuscan Ducal Crown. This legend reads
―Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, and Lorraine, Count of Flanders,
1796‖. In 1806, Francis II dissolved the Holy Roman Empire after being
defeated by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz and was forced to give his
daughter, Maria Louise as a bride to Napoleon.
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The Salem Gazette
1796, September 13
Region: United States, Massachusetts
Material: Paper, not encapsulated
Description: Four page newspaper printed in Salem in 1796 covers local news (farms for
sale, jobs available, elections ongoing) but also national and international
(Napoleon’s wars in Europe, ect.) Transcription available
Historical Newspaper Collection
Payment Request to Napoleon Bonaparte on the Egyptian Campaign
1798
Region: France/Egypt
Description: Letter from Giuseppe Earhart to Napoleon Bonaparte, requesting additional
land in restitution for certain deeds Earhart performed while a part of Napoleon’s
Army. Napoleon signed an order to investigate this claim on the same paper, and
the backside of the paper is covered with the results of said investigation in
French and Arabic, in which the officers conclude that Earhart did not perform
such deeds as would necessitate the awarding of additional land. Written in
Italian, French and Arabic languages. Translation not available, though summary
is. Written and sent during the Egyptian Campaign
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Age of Expansion and Revolution: 1600-1800

Transcription

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