PAUL REVERE Engraved 1775 Colonial Currency Note

Massachusetts Currency
Paul Revere, Jr. Engraved May 25, 1775 Massachusetts Copper-Plate "(Am)erican Paper" Long Note PCGS VF-30
Colony of Massachusetts Bay, May 25, 1775, Ten Shillings, Paul Revere Engraved Copper-Plate Long Note, "(Am)erican Paper" Legend with 6% Annual Interest, Due Date May 25, 1776, PCGS graded Very Fine-30.
Fr. MA-142. The historic Silversmith Paul Revere, Jr. engraved Revolutionary War note, produced on an "Emergency" basis commissioned to Revere by the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay. This important May 1775 issue dates one month after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the morning of April 19th, 1775.
Only 4,333 notes were printed, with all issued notes to be returned back to the Treasury just one year later by May 25, 1776. These rectangular "Long" bills also carried a 6% Annual Interest. This outstanding quality note has four full margins providing nice centering. Its boldly printed face is extremely clean, with some light soiling on its blank reverse where folded. The PCGS VF-30 holder states an apparent split restored, which is expertly accomplished and near invisible. It displays part of The highly patriotic "Political" legend text "(Am)erican Paper" at the left indent side was also engraved by Paul Revere. A choice note, its serial number and signatures written in deep brown of Abraham Fuller and Henry Gardner as "Receivr Generl." Short cross-cancels on Gardner's signature. PMG Top Pop reports a single EF-45 as finer. A historic Paul Revere engraved note supporting the American Revolutionary cause, issued at the very outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
This notes design type is listed and illustrated in the 1954 reference titled, "The Engravings of Paul Revere" by Clarence Brigham, published by the American Antiquarian Association. Most surviving notes have small half inch hole-punch cancels, thankfully not present in this current example.
KEYWORDS:
Political Currency, Colonial Currency, Historic Paper Money, Early Paper Money of America, Massachusetts Currency, Revolutionary War Paper Money, Colonial America, Printing Paper Money, Paul Revere Engraving, The Engravings of Paul Revere