EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY JUNE 2026 SALE

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 25, 2026, Article 17

Here are several selections from the upcoming Early American History Auctions sale. -Garrett

September 27, 1785 United States Congress Federal Indent "Bearer Note", Two Dollars, Anderson-166. Signed, "J. Hardy" (by John Hardy), PCGS graded Very Fine-30.

This extremely rare Congressional Pre-Constitution Federal "Indent" Bearer Note was issued by a "Requisition of Congress" and to be received for anticipated "Taxes" to be received from the various states and payable to Congress. This issue is printed on thin laid paper with marginal border designs at top and bottom. At the "Indented" left end, the partially remaining denomination text of TWO DOLLARS, is outlined on shaded engraved portion. This example is Signed by John Hardy with his elegant flourish below. A very natural note, its period laid paper is strong and original with complete full margins and has a nicely cut left indent. As mentioned on its holder there is some damp staining at the top center, minor ink erosion within the manuscript portions, plus overall age tone. As with all of these Federal Indents they are extremely rare and important emergency fiscal Bearer notes. Newman reports that a Two Dollar note in the John Ford sale of January 2005 graded Fine over two decades ago sold then for $2,185. Provenance Ex: Eric P. Newman Collection.

May 10, 1781, Maryland, One Shilling and Six Pence, "RED MONEY" Issue with Red Borders on its face and a Red central Woodcut of Maryland Arms on the reverse, Printed by (Frederick) F. Green, Very Fine.

Fr. MD-128. The current PMG Population Report shows only three notes certified, the finest being graded Fine-15. This very pleasing raw note is appears to be Very Fine. It is well centered both face and back, fully readable, being even in circulation with good red color. The laid period paper has some light wrinkles as made, and centerfold bottom edge possibly split and sealed, with all text and signatures very clear and readable. The 2008 5th Edition of Newman references values for this note starting at $3,000 in Very Good to $7,500 in Very Fine, showing no higher values due to its rarity in higher grades. The current 22nd Edition of Friedberg listing only states it to be "Very Rare". This note is fully signed by Nicholas Harwood and John Callahan in brown ink, having overall nice eye appeal.

By early 1781, Continental Currency (the central paper money issued by the Continental Congress) suffered from severe hyperinflation and became functionally worthless. Individual states had to independently finance their military defenses and provision troops. To restore public confidence and replace collapsing paper currencies, the Maryland General Assembly authorized a strict, alternative state emission on May 10, 1781. The "Red Money" nickname for this special currency issue earned its name because the primary text, elaborate borders, and denomination markings were distinctively printed in Red ink to easily distinguish them from other "depreciated" paper currencies (such as Maryland's "Black Money" issues). The notes were issued using the traditional English accounting system of pounds (£), shillings (s), and pence.

Unlike Continental Currency bills that were not backed, Maryland's Red Money was legally tied to real value. The state backed these bills with confiscated British Loyalist (Tory) estates and British property. They carried a legal promise of redemption in gold or silver bullion coin (specie) by December 25, 1784. Because they were reliably backed by land and slated for hard-coin redemption, Red Money notes held their value much better than earlier Revolutionary paper. General George Washington's army and Maryland officials heavily relied on this specific issue to purchase food, forage, and gunpowder during the critical 1781 Yorktown Campaign. Today, Maryland May 10, 1781 "Red Money" notes are considered extremely rare. One major reason is the state successfully redeemed and subsequently destroyed the vast majority of these bills after December 1784, today very few survived. Surviving specimens are coveted prize artifacts of early American numismatics.

December 31, 1763, New Jersey, 3 Pounds, Contemporary Counterfeit, Plate B, the Only and Finest Certified Example Known by PMG graded Very Fine-25.

NJ-159CFT. A major New Jersey currency rarity as a Contemporary Counterfeit as the Only and Finest certified by PMG when held against its genuine counterparts. The details of the Suns Face printed seal at center, displayed above the signatures is noticeably even better and sharper in detail when held against its genuine counterparts. This quality serves to demonstrates the great lengths that period counterfeiters took to avoid detection (and if caught, their potential Hanging). A similar Contemporary Counterfeit that was graded Very Fine 20 (Apparent) by PCGS Currency sold for $1,175 in May 2017. Its current holder states stickers attached, which are on the reverse we believe were placed by noted collector T.J. Clarke over five decades ago. Ex: Pine Tree Auctions, June 1978 Breen III Sale, June 19, 1978 with that original lot card.

December 10, 1737, New York Colonial Note, Two Pounds, Only and Finest Known PMG Certified Genuine Example graded Choice Fine-15.

Fr. NY-99. The December 10, 1737 New York emission occupies a singular historical position in the annals of colonial paper money, for it was printed by John Peter Zenger - the German-born press operator whose acquittal on charges of "Seditious Libel" in August 1735 stands as the most celebrated Early American Victory for "Freedom of the Press", and whose appointment as public printer for the Colony of New York in 1737 was itself the direct reward for that triumph. Notes on this issue also bear the signature of; James Alexander the brilliant Scottish-born lawyer who founded the "New-York Weekly Journal," who ghost-wrote the articles that provoked Zenger's prosecution, and who served as Zenger's First Counsel before being disbarred for his audacity in challenging the court, and who was at last reinstated to the bar and restored to the Governor's Council in the very year of this currency issue!

All makes the conjunction almost too remarkable in history. Printer and advocate, both central figures in the Zenger Affair, here united on a single piece of rare New York paper money currency in the year of their joint rehabilitation. Its holder indicates that the note is repaired, although conservation was made at the left edge and a few trivial reinforcements are on the blank reverse. It ranks as the only singular note presently appearing in the PMG Population Report for this Friedberg number. The Only and Finest Known Fr. NY-99 that is as a PMG Certified Genuine Example graded Choice Fine-15.

The face side of this 1737 New York Genuine Note features the coat of arms of New York City and bears the Signatures of: Simon Johnson, James Alexander, and S. Rowe.

JAMES ALEXANDER (1691-1756). In 1733, outraged by the arbitrary conduct of Governor William Cosby, he founded the New-York Weekly Journal with Zenger as printer and anonymously authored the satirical pieces that brought the Crown's wrath down upon them both.

Disbarred in 1735 for challenging the legitimacy of the judges hearing Zenger's case, Alexander was fully vindicated upon Cosby's death: reinstated in 1737, restored to the Council, and in the same year appointed one of the signers of the present currency, the New York colony's formal acknowledgment of his standing.

He went on to co-found the American Philosophical Society with Benjamin Franklin in 1743 and helped raise funds for King's College (later Columbia University) in 1751. He died in 1756, the wealthiest lawyer New York had ever produced.

Signers Simon Johnson and S. Rowe served as appointed individual signers are not well documented in surviving historical records; they were likely members of the New York Colonial Assembly or appointed signers for this emission, as officers or committee-men charged by the New York Assembly with authenticating the notes. Only James Alexander has a rich, well-documented biography.

The December 10, 1737 New York emission is rare under any circumstances; printed by Zenger and Signed by James Alexander in the very year of their shared rehabilitation, it is a document of the first order and a physical testimony of the most important "Free-Press" episode in colonial American history, carrying on its face the autograph of the man who made it possible.

New York, February 4, 1793, Church-Money Note, "Reformed Dutch Church of Upper Canajohary," One Penny, Small Change Private Issue Note, Signed "Jacob Maskell," "Printed by C.R. and G. Webster, Albany," PMG graded Very Fine-25.

A rarely encountered choice quality "Reformed Dutch Church of Upper Canajohary" One Penny note, a type lacking in most all Colonial Currency and New York paper money collections. This not is Fully Signed "Jacob Maskell" in rich brown ink and this Church-Money note is boldly printed and attractive with the eye appeal of Extremely Fine. This note appears finer in quality to the (2008) 5th Edition Eric Newman "The Early Paper Money of America" One Penny, as shown illustrated on page 308, yet it is not valued there in any grade due to its significant rarity. "Printed by C.R. and G. Webster, Albany" its design has extensive typeset text with ornamental border designs on both sides. Boldly signed by "Jacob Maskell" as Treasurer. The holder notes repaired (though no repair is seen under a strong light by this cataloger). More likely, the PMG grader was confused with some faint tone seen along the right side mistaking it as being a repair. We have previously sold a similar note on this issue in our EAHA Auction of November 10, 2007 Lot 767, a Two Pence graded About EF, which sold for $1,062. Very rare.

Rare Currency, Colonial Currency, Historic Paper Money, Early Paper Money of America, New York Colonial Currency, Revolutionary War Paper Money, Colonial America, Printing Paper Money, New York Fiscal Paper Note, Engraved Paper Money, New York Currency

c. 1800s, "LAFAYETTE" Green field with White Jasperware WEDGWOOD Portrait Medallion, housed in a Brass Bezel with Loop to wear or hang on display, 3 inch diameter, Choice Near Mint.

A very attractive 3" diameter High Relief Medallion with a sage green field with a period likely factory made brass gilt frame with loop and a careful cut slot on the reverse to reveal impressed "LAFAYETTE" name. Rare. Provenance Ex: Collection of Paul Richards Auction with sticker on the reverse.

"1847" Dated (1850) Virginia Medal to Major General Winfield Scott / Mexican-American War Medal, by Charles Cushing Wright. Julian MI-27, Struck at the United States Mint in Bronzed Copper, Gem Mint State.

90 mm diameter and 8.8 mm thick. An impressive very large, heavy thick Bronzed Copper Military medal was struck at the US Mint in Philadelphia, with dies engraved by Charles Cushing Wright. The Obverse displays his draped bust of General Scott facing left. It is atop a tablet inscribed with a 10-line tribute to Scott's role in the Mexican War. Reverse shows an American Eagle atop a decorative pillar with an olive branch in its beak, with cities and mountains in the background, the text "FROM VIRGINIA" below. This medal's mahogany surfaces are smooth and hard with sharp high raised rims that are defect-free and show no contact marks. This highly impressive medal was struck at the United States Mint for sale to collectors. A rare medal, this being only the second example of the MI-27 medal that we have offered, the first being graded Mint State and selling in our May 16, 2009 EAHA Auction Lot 998 for $2,124. This medal is slightly finer in eye appeal.

Winfield Scott, Revolutionary War, Civil War, Mexican-American War, Medal, United States Mint

"1854" Captains Creighton, Low, and Stouffer / Steamer San Francisco Life Saving Medal, Julian LS-12, Struck in Bronze, Engraved by T.W. Welsh, About Uncirculated.

75 mm. This sharply struck reddish-bronze medal has designs in high-relief and lustrous surfaces. There are some faint hairlines in the fields otherwise having smooth underlying red glossy surfaces, likely from an old cleaning. Obverse: Shield with the arms of Philadelphia held by two allegorical female figures. Reverse: The testimonial inscription reads: "TESTIMONIAL / TO / CAPTAINS/CRIGHTON (sic), LOW AND STOUFFER. / OF THE SHIPS / THREE BELLS, KILBY, AND ANTARCTIC. / FROM THE CORPORATION / OF THE / CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. / FOR THEIR GALLANTRY IN RESCUING/THE PASSENGERS FROM THE WRECK OF / THE STEAMER / SAN FRANCISCO / JANUARY 1854 ."