HENRY MIDDLETON Colonial Currency SC. April 1775
Autographs
"Henry Middleton" 2nd President of the Continental Congress Signed 1775 50 South Carolina PMG VF-25
HENRY MIDDLETON (1717-1784). 2nd President of the Continental Congress, a "Founding Father" of the United States from South Carolina, Member of the Colonial legislature, during the American Revolution he attended the Continental Congress and served as that body's president in 1774; Signed the "Continental Association" but left Congress before it declared Independence. (The only "Collectable" examples of Henry Middleton's signature for autograph collectors are found on this issue.)
Fr. SC-97.2. South Carolina, April 29, 1775 Hand-Dated, Fifty Pounds, Handwritten Date, Large Format "Promissory Note of Citizens", Signed "Henry Middleton", Certified by PMG as Genuine and graded Very Fine-25. Signed by Henry Middleton (1717-1784) who was the second President of the Continental Congress, representing South Carolina. This Currency note only "collectable" type, and reasonably "affordable" examples, of Henry Middleton's signature available to autograph collectors. This rare series was issued for only two months, between April and May of 1775. This ornately engraved 50 South Carolina Currency "Promissory Note of Citizens" has a large size format that measures about 4.5" x 6.25" and is of a unique style. This note has trivial ink burn within the serial number only and the face is manuscript cancelled as noted on its PMG holder. All its margins are fully wide for this issue with all printed text and its ornate devices seen fully on the laid period paper. Indented left margin border with fancy decorative scroll devices. Listed in Eric Newman's reference "THE EARLY PAPER MONEY OF AMERICA", this Colonial South Carolina currency note is considered virtually the only form available to acquire an example of Henry Middleton's autograph.
This historic Revolutionary War note issue was authorized by Act to be Signed and Issued on April 18th, 1775. That historic date was that very night when the British Redcoats marched from Boston to be met the following morning at Lexington and Concord by Massachusetts Patriot Minutemen. April 19th, 1775 was the day of "the shot heard around the world" at Lexington green, initiating the start of the American Revolutionary War.
Signed, "Henry Middleton" in deep dark brown ink with his huge signature measuring just over 3" long and is clearly readable beneath the manuscript cancel line. There are no other noted detractions on the engraved highly decorative reverse. Its design is exceptionally ornate, showing a display of a Crowned Rose, Thistle flanking Fleur-de-lis and a Harp printed on fresh clean paper having very pleasing eye appeal. The designs on both sides are clear and sharp, the printed text fully readable. All five signatures and the date are written in brown ink including: Henry Middleton, Roger Smith, Th.(omas) Lynch, M.(iles) Brewton, and B.(enjamin) Huger. The "key" signature by Henry Middleton is at top, his very large 3" long signature written above the others.
This note's issue type is also illustrated in Charles Hamilton's classic reference book on collecting Autographs. This example is significantly finer in quality than the Newman illustration plate note (which also has a dark manuscript cancel line drawn across Middleton's name). A similar example we offered was a 50 note, also with a dark manuscript cancel line running directly through "Henry Middleton" which sold our EAHA Auction June 3, 2016, Lot 2112, stating "Manuscript Canceled" PCGS graded EF-40 which then sold for $4,800. A wonderful autographed currency numismatic collecting opportunity.
KEYWORDS:
Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Colonial Currency, Paper Money, Early Paper Money of America, South Carolina Currency, American Revolutionary War Loan, Colonial America, Colony of South Carolina, Province of Fiscal Paper, Printing Paper Money, British Colonial Acts, Revolutionary War, George Washington, Continental Congress, Continental, No Taxation Without Representation, Inflation, Fiat Currency, Currency Printing, Benjamin Franklin
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
Autographs
"Henry Middleton" 2nd President of the Continental Congress Signed 1775 50 South Carolina PMG VF-25
HENRY MIDDLETON (1717-1784). 2nd President of the Continental Congress, a "Founding Father" of the United States from South Carolina, Member of the Colonial legislature, during the American Revolution he attended the Continental Congress and served as that body's president in 1774; Signed the "Continental Association" but left Congress before it declared Independence. (The only "Collectable" examples of Henry Middleton's signature for autograph collectors are found on this issue.)
Fr. SC-97.2. South Carolina, April 29, 1775 Hand-Dated, Fifty Pounds, Handwritten Date, Large Format "Promissory Note of Citizens", Signed "Henry Middleton", Certified by PMG as Genuine and graded Very Fine-25. Signed by Henry Middleton (1717-1784) who was the second President of the Continental Congress, representing South Carolina. This Currency note only "collectable" type, and reasonably "affordable" examples, of Henry Middleton's signature available to autograph collectors. This rare series was issued for only two months, between April and May of 1775. This ornately engraved 50 South Carolina Currency "Promissory Note of Citizens" has a large size format that measures about 4.5" x 6.25" and is of a unique style. This note has trivial ink burn within the serial number only and the face is manuscript cancelled as noted on its PMG holder. All its margins are fully wide for this issue with all printed text and its ornate devices seen fully on the laid period paper. Indented left margin border with fancy decorative scroll devices. Listed in Eric Newman's reference "THE EARLY PAPER MONEY OF AMERICA", this Colonial South Carolina currency note is considered virtually the only form available to acquire an example of Henry Middleton's autograph.
This historic Revolutionary War note issue was authorized by Act to be Signed and Issued on April 18th, 1775. That historic date was that very night when the British Redcoats marched from Boston to be met the following morning at Lexington and Concord by Massachusetts Patriot Minutemen. April 19th, 1775 was the day of "the shot heard around the world" at Lexington green, initiating the start of the American Revolutionary War.
Signed, "Henry Middleton" in deep dark brown ink with his huge signature measuring just over 3" long and is clearly readable beneath the manuscript cancel line. There are no other noted detractions on the engraved highly decorative reverse. Its design is exceptionally ornate, showing a display of a Crowned Rose, Thistle flanking Fleur-de-lis and a Harp printed on fresh clean paper having very pleasing eye appeal. The designs on both sides are clear and sharp, the printed text fully readable. All five signatures and the date are written in brown ink including: Henry Middleton, Roger Smith, Th.(omas) Lynch, M.(iles) Brewton, and B.(enjamin) Huger. The "key" signature by Henry Middleton is at top, his very large 3" long signature written above the others.
This note's issue type is also illustrated in Charles Hamilton's classic reference book on collecting Autographs. This example is significantly finer in quality than the Newman illustration plate note (which also has a dark manuscript cancel line drawn across Middleton's name). A similar example we offered was a 50 note, also with a dark manuscript cancel line running directly through "Henry Middleton" which sold our EAHA Auction June 3, 2016, Lot 2112, stating "Manuscript Canceled" PCGS graded EF-40 which then sold for $4,800. A wonderful autographed currency numismatic collecting opportunity.
KEYWORDS:
Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Colonial Currency, Paper Money, Early Paper Money of America, South Carolina Currency, American Revolutionary War Loan, Colonial America, Colony of South Carolina, Province of Fiscal Paper, Printing Paper Money, British Colonial Acts, Revolutionary War, George Washington, Continental Congress, Continental, No Taxation Without Representation, Inflation, Fiat Currency, Currency Printing, Benjamin Franklin
