Fractional Currency?

Is fractional currency a joke? I found a "one third dollar" bill from 1776. I
mean...its one THIRD!

Also noticed that the signature is "Sam Hillegas" eventhough the first
treasurer of the US was "Michael Hillegas".

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=22033981 96

From: whiteleath
Is fractional currency a joke?

No, it's serious. People used to use not only fractional currency, but postage
stamps as well as 'partial dollars' and various denominations of cents, for
trade purposes.

Stamps, as well as paper fractionals, were easier and cheaper to make than
coins.

8-/


Coin Saver

In article ,
(Whiteleath) wrote:

Is fractional currency a joke? I found a "one third dollar" bill from
1776. I
mean...its one THIRD!

Also noticed that the signature is "Sam Hillegas" eventhough the first
treasurer of the US was "Michael Hillegas".

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=22033981 96

That's a piece of "Continental currency", not a piece of
"fractional currency".

Continental currency was issued between 1775 and 1779 (preceding
the adoption of the U. S. Constitution, issued under the Articles
of Confederation). Denominations ranged from $1/6 through $80,
with such unusual denominations as $1/6, $1/3, $2/3, $6, $7, $8,
$35, $45, $55 and $65 included ... Samuel Hillegas was appointed
as a signer on 3/9/1776 and reappointed on 12/27/1776. He signed
notes of four different series between Feb 1776 and Nov 1776. Dunno
if Michael Hillegas (born in 1729) was a relative of his or not ...

Fractional currency was issued between 1862 and 1876, in denominations
of 3c, 5c, 10c, 15c, 25c and 50c. It started out as a replacement for
metallic minor coins which were removed from circulation as hoarding
occurred during the Civil War, but continued well after that ended.
(The gubbermint has a hard time giving anything up ...)

--
Ken Barr Numismatics
P. O. Box 32541 website: http://www.kenbarr.com
San Jose, CA 95152 (souvenir cards, MPC, Hickey Bros tokens)
408-272-3247 Next show: Peninsula CC, San Jose, 11/9, no table)
ADVANCED NOTICE: ANA World's Fair of Money, San Jose, CA 7/27-31/2005

Thanks for the correction on the currency type.

I think "Sam" and "Michael" Hillegas must be the same guy. Here is the
historical note from the US Treasury site:

"On August 6,1776, George Clymer resigned and the Continental Congress
appointed Michael Hillegas as the sole Continental Treasurer. After the name of
our nation was changed from the United Colonies to the United States, on
September 9, 1776, Michael Hillegas continued as the Treasurer of the United
States, although his title was not officially changed to reflect the new
reality until March 1778. Treasurer Hillegas served the new nation until
September 11, 1789 and was succeeded by Samuel Meredith who served until
October 3, 1801."

Is it just a coincidence that the second treasurer's name is "Sam"?

Keep in mind, my note is signed "Sam Hillegas" in 1776, not "Michael" (Michael
doesn't even sound "continental" does it?).

Kris

A bit is 12 1/2 cents

(Whiteleath) adds....

I think "Sam" and "Michael" Hillegas must be the same guy.

I don't know. The "name" Samuel Hillegas was one of about 260 known authorized
signatories on Continental Currency and pre-dated Michael Hillegas appointment
as Treasurer. The Treasurer did not sign the notes, appointed or assigned
personnel did.

He may have been related or not, meaning he may have been almost anyone who
simply signed as Samuel Hillegas. I think if he had been one in the same,
history would have made the connection or maybe not.

There were 600,000 pieces of this denom printed, on 3 different plates.
FYI.....All denoms under $1, were only signed with one sig in red ink. At or
above $1, a second person counter sig in black was required.

This eBay note may fetch $150 to $225 or so at end of auction.

Always here for my fellow syngraphist or oenophile.
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