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Congress creates Continental Currency... From Lexington & Concord forward...

Item # 701118

November 16, 1775

THE NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Nov. 16, 1775 A very significant issue in the financial history of the United States, as the front page reports the first issuance of Continental Currency to support the Revolutionary War. Datelined: "Philadelphia, In Congress, Thursday, June 22, 1775" it reports: "Resolved, That a sum not exceeding two millions of Spanish milled dollars be emitted by the Congress in bills of credit for the defence of America." What follows, taking up two-thirds of the front page, are the details of this historic document, portions including: "That the twelve confederated colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit now directed to be emitted for the defence of America...That the number& denomination of the bills to be emitted be as follows..." and what follows is the list.
Then: "That the form of the bill be as follows, Continental Currency. Dollars" with the specifics of what is on the bills. Also: "Resolved, That Mr. Adams. Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Duane, Doctor Franklin, & Mr. Wilson be a committee to get proper plates engraved, to provide paper, and to agree with printers to print the above bills..." and much more. The report ends with the signatures in type by the Secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson.
Note there is loss of perhaps a dozen words during to paper loss.
This document marks the beginning of the United States issuing currency.
The website "This Day In History - Congress issues Continental Currency" provides the historical background.
Almost equally as interesting is a front page, nearly column-long "Resolve" from the Massachusetts legislature essentially calling for soldiers who participated in the battle of Lexington & Concord to submit their travel expenses, and details concerning pay for soldiers. It begins: "That each person whether in the American Army or not, who on, or after the 19th of April last...did in consequence of the alarm made on that day, march from home with the command of any company or party of minute men...for the defence of this colony..." with much more.
Page 2 has the: "Articles of Capitulation Proposed by Major Charles Preston for his Majesty's Forts at St. John's in the Province of Canada" and a related letter from General Montgomery on its capture (some loss here; see photos). Much of the balance of page 2 is taken up with an excellent letter: "To the American Soldier -- Worth Fellow Solders" which is signed: A Soldier.
Page 3 has a report from Williamsburg which begins: "After Lord Dunmore, with his troops & the navy...been for several weeks seizing the persons & property of his Majesty's peaceable subjects in this colony...a party from armed tender landed near Hampton & took away a valuable Negro man slave and a sail from the owner; next morning there appeared off the mouth..." with more on the troubles there.
And as if all this great content was not sufficient, the back page begins with: "By the King, A PROCLAMATION For Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition" which has near the beginning: "Whereas many of our subjects in divers pats of our Colonies...misled by dangerous and ill designing men, & forgetting the allegiance which they owe to the power that has protected & sustained them..." with more.
Truly a terrific issue on many accounts.
Four pages, handsome engraving in the masthead, loss to a portion of the central fold is archivally repaired, causes some word loss. Never bound nor trimmed, wear at the margins, a few other archival mends at the margins. Offered at half the price due to its condition.