 Colony of the Massachusetts Bay. August 18, 1775. Four Shillings. No.351. Payable on August 18, 1778. Signed by Wheeler and Plympton. Revere Sword in Hand Note. Printed on rigid, clean and moderately thick stock. 77mm by 99mm. This is a Sword in Hand note that recalls the Star Trek coined phraseology, ''Where no man has gone before!'' This is an absolutely impeccable note of the highest order and part of a select group of ''Swords'' from this series that hail from Boyd's Collection and were certainly among his and John Ford's favorites.
The collecting of Massachusetts paper money has not reached the mania of Massachusetts silver coinage collecting over the past 150 years due to the absence of impact specimens. Instead, paper money did not have the widespread enthusiasm that Colonial coins did during the foundational early decades of American numismatics, starting in the 1850's. Fortunately, early numismatic greats such as Haseltine, Chapman and the visionary Boyd saw the great importance of these notes and collected and protected notes such as this in their cabinets to preserve them for our current generation of numismatists. In this day and age, we realize how much these notes mean in the grand pantheon of historical American numismatics and these notes rightfully take their proper place with some of the most outstanding of American numismatic treasures.
We will quickly say that this note is not perfect. However, it should be considered as such after its trivial faults are tossed to the side. Gem Crisp Uncirculated and printed with excellent strength on most of the perimeter and center. Some weakness on the lower right flourishes of the face and perhaps a plate weakness diagnostic on the 'Aug' of 'August' on the back. The ship seal is strong and the back printing is awe inspiring. Detailed shadow lines behind the legs and very clear detailing of the patriot. Obviously, cut from an original sheet long ago as there is a Boyd pencil code, 'mryx', on the bottom of the back. The paper is extremely bright and as fresh as the day it left Revere's shop. The only flaw is the note was once lightly corner tip mounted with tiny remnants still attached on all four corners. This flaw is away from everything that counts. The finest known of this type until we are shown another and an incredible opportunity to own one of the finest Sword in Hand notes in existence. This note, in all likelihood, will set a record for a Sword in Hand at auction. The next owner joins a select group of some of the greatest paper money collectors and numismatists of all time.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Estate.
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