Note Highlights
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Issuer: Continental Congress
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Date of Issue: November 2, 1776
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Denomination: $7
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Catalog Reference: Friedberg CC-52
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Serial Number: #6081
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Printer: Hall & Sellers (Philadelphia, successors to Benjamin Franklin)
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Grade: PCGS VF30 (Very Fine)
Design Features
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Obverse (Front): Text-heavy design declaring the note’s value of Seven Spanish Milled Dollars, payable in gold or silver, with bold border motifs. Handwritten signatures and serial number add unique authenticity.
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Reverse (Back): Nature print created from a real leaf, a hallmark of Franklin’s anti-counterfeiting technology, accompanied by the denomination.
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Paper: Laid rag paper, robust and durable, intended to withstand circulation in a time of coin shortage.
Historical Significance
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Issued during the height of the American Revolution, when Continental Congress financed the war effort with paper money backed by anticipated tax revenue and faith in victory.
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The Spanish Milled Dollar reference underscores reliance on international silver coinage as the backbone of colonial commerce.
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The November 2, 1776 issue was one of several critical emissions to raise funds for Continental troops just months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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Printed by Hall & Sellers, who inherited Franklin’s printing methods, ensuring advanced anti-counterfeiting techniques for the time.
Collectibility
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At VF30, this note retains strong details with moderate circulation wear, an appealing mid-grade survivor.
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Handwritten elements, such as signatures and numbering, remain visible, enhancing historical authenticity.
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Continental Currency has long been prized as one of the earliest forms of national U.S. paper money, and the $7 denomination is especially attractive to collectors due to its Revolutionary War provenance.
