Colonial Note NC. Dec. 29 1785 2s6d Blue Detector

North Carolina Currency
Unique "Proof of Money" December 29, 1785 Act Two Shillings & Six Pence "Phoenix" Blue Paper Test Specimen/ Counterfeit Detector
North Carolina Currency, December 29, 1785 Act at Newbern, Two Shillings and Six Pence, "Phoenix" vignette, Blue Paper Test Specimen/Counterfeit Detector, "Proof of Money" notation, HILLSBOROUGH: Printed by THOMAS DAVIS Typeset reverse, Very Fine.
Fr. NC-211DET. Unique to our best knowledge, this Two Shillings and Six Pence legal tender note is printed on special watermarked "NORTH / CAROLINA" blue-green laid period paper, printed from the original plates by Thomas Davis. Boxed "Phoenix" at left with "MELIOR RESURGO" motto (I Return Improved) in a banner below. This "Counterfeit Detector" having the handwritten manuscript notation in the signature area reading "Proof of Money". This note shows even overall wear, some folds and creasing with some paper erosion starting to appear at its vertical centerfold apparently having been provided some expert conservation. The paper shows weakness from the watermark which shows very prominent when held to a strong light. Remarkable and believed UNIQUE. The Stack's Ford/Boyd Sale XV, October 2006 did not contain any example of this denomination or mention of Blue Counterfeit Detector notes. The (2008) 5th Edition of the Newman reference does illustrate this denomination with an issued note on page 323, where there is mention of "Test specimens on blue paper" which is another very likely use. The face is perfectly centered within four very large even margins, all reverse side border designs and typeset text are fully on the paper. The finest and only known example. Unique.
KEYWORDS:
Rare Currency, Colonial Currency, Historic Paper Money, Early Paper Money of America, North Carolina Colonial Currency, Revolutionary War Paper Money, Colonial America, Printing Paper Money, North Carolina Fiscal Paper Note, Hand Signed Paper Money, North Carolina Currency