Note Highlights
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Issuer: State of South Carolina
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Date of Issue: December 23, 1777
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Denomination: 4 Spanish Milled Dollars (equivalent to $4)
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Catalog Reference: Friedberg SC-138b
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Grade: PMG About UNC 53 EPQ (Exceptional Paper Quality)
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Serial Number: None (unsigned/unnumbered remainder)
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Printer: Authorized by the South Carolina General Assembly
Design Features
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Obverse: Text-based design framed in ornamental border; denomination stated in “Spanish Milled Dollars,” the international trade standard of the 18th century. Space for handwritten signatures and numbering (not present on this remainder).
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Reverse: Blank, typical of South Carolina colonial notes from this issue.
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Paper: Rag-laid paper, durable for circulation, with natural fiber texture still intact due to its preservation grade.
Historical Significance
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Issued during the American Revolution, when South Carolina was under immense financial and military strain.
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The choice to denominate in Spanish Milled Dollars reflects the importance of Spanish silver as a reliable medium of exchange in colonial America.
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This issue helped finance Revolutionary War needs—paying troops, purchasing supplies, and sustaining the local economy during currency shortages.
Collectibility
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Condition: At About Uncirculated 53 EPQ, this note shows minimal handling with strong paper quality, a rarity for 18th-century survivors.
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Remainder Status: Unsigned and unnumbered remainders typically survived in better shape, offering collectors an opportunity to acquire higher-grade examples.
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Scarcity: South Carolina notes from this period are especially prized due to the state’s pivotal role in the Revolution and their relatively low survival rates.
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A significant addition for collectors of colonial currency, Spanish Milled Dollar issues, and Revolutionary War artifacts.
