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Re: A long question about early American currency



[I'm posting this answer from an Exlibris non-subscriber, Richard Doty at the Smithsonian, to whom I referred this question. --Diane Shaw]

English money was indeed being used in New England - or rather, an English reckoning system was still in use.  While there were American coins (half cents to ten-dollar gold pieces, or eagles), and while the Mint had been striking them since the beginning of 1793, not many had been made up to the end of the nineties, and older systems of reckoning were still in force in many places.  Does your broadside include an engraving or image, or is it completely type?  If it has an image, one might be able to snag its identity by the quality of the artwork.  Incidentally, the shillings/pence listed by way of prices EXACTLY correspond with what sterling was tabbed at against the dollar;  I'm inclined to think that the broadside's American.
                                                                             Sincerely,
                                                                             Richard G. Doty
                                                                             Curator of Numismatics
                                                                             Smithsonian Institution
                                                                             dotyr@nmah.si.edu


S. Diane Shaw
Special Collections Cataloger
Smithsonian Institution Libraries
NHB 30
Washington, D.C. 20560
Phone: (202) 357-3161
Fax: (202) 786-2866
Email: shawd@sil.si.edu
SIL homepage: http://www.sil.si.edu


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