Note Highlights
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Issuer: Province of Pennsylvania
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Date of Issue: April 25, 1776
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Denomination: 4 Pence (Four Pence)
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Catalog Reference: Friedberg PA-198
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Serial Number: #22992
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Plate Letter: C
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Printer: Hall and Sellers (successors to Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia printing press)
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Grade: PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 PPQ (Premium Paper Quality)
Design Features
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Obverse: Textual layout detailing denomination and authorization by the Pennsylvania Assembly, with handwritten serial number and original ink signatures.
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Reverse: Bold nature print with the denomination clearly stated as Four Pence, a design technique pioneered by Franklin to deter counterfeiting by using impressions of real leaves.
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Paper: Laid rag paper typical of colonial issues, chosen for durability and resistance to wear.
Historical Significance
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Issued just months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this note reflects the urgent financial measures taken by Pennsylvania to support the Revolutionary cause.
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Fractional denominations like this Four Pence were essential for daily commerce, as coin shortages plagued the colonies during the war.
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Printed by Hall and Sellers, Franklin’s legacy in currency printing lived on, combining artistry and anti-counterfeiting innovations.
