![State of New Jersey. 1786. Three Pounds. No.3208. Signed by Maskell Ewing and Ben.[jamin] Van Cleve....](http://www.stacksarchive.com/gallery/SL0505b/47/SL0505b4769t2.jpg "State of New Jersey. 1786. Three Pounds. No.3208. Signed by Maskell Ewing and Ben.[jamin] Van Cleve....") State of New Jersey. 1786. Three Pounds. No.3208. Signed by Maskell Ewing and Ben.[jamin] Van Cleve. Printed on thinner, rigid paper watermarked 'NEW JERSEY'. Standard face designs with red New Jersey State Arms and wide red inside frame. The outer pattern is blue with blue texts. The Arms are now the shield with three plowshares (as used on New Jersey coppers) supported by Plenty and Liberty. Standard leaf back in black printed by Isaac Collins. At the back left end 'Trenton, 1786'.
A very important Act date as these were the last State notes issued on New Jersey in the Colonial period. This series circulated heavily and is priced in Newman in grades up to Fine only. However, this is superbly misleading as any note from this series, in any grade, is a rarity. The DuPont Collection of New Jersey notes had an example of this type (Smythe, March 1993, lot 2159, Serial No.3854) just shy of Fine. That note realized $2,200.00 and was according to cataloguer Douglas Ball, ''the first we have ever seen.'' There were only 5,000 notes of this denomination printed and few exist. The note is very choice. Though backed to a card, this is only at the ends. The card has been cut back to expose a well printed back with excellent detail. The mounting is only at the extreme ends. Very Fine with bold colors for the grade and no major flaws. A penciled code by Boyd on the card ''myxy'' and ''H'' (Henry [Chapman]? or perhaps ''Henkels'' sale).
An extraordinary note for the specialist. If New Jersey Colonial Paper money collecting were only 20% as advanced as the New Jersey copper coin collecting field, created by the horde of ravenous enthusiasts of that complex and fascinating series, then this note might be on a level of a potential $50,000 or higher realization. The entire field of Colonial Paper Currency collecting is extremely underrated. The most popular states in the Colonial Coin field represent tremendous opportunity for visionary collectors. Mr. Boyd, a resident of New Jersey, understood this note well and we are sure he treasured it right up there with some of his prize New Jersey Colonial coins. A wonderful note for the next New Jersey specialist who recognizes the tremendous opportunity this museum caliber note conveys in the context of New Jersey financial history during our early Independent history.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Estate.
| |
|
![Click to open a larger image - State of New Jersey. 1786. Three Pounds. No.3208. Signed by Maskell Ewing and Ben.[jamin] Van Cleve....](http://www.stacksarchive.com/gallery/SL0505b/47/SL0505b4769a.jpg "Click to open a larger image - State of New Jersey. 1786. Three Pounds. No.3208. Signed by Maskell Ewing and Ben.[jamin] Van Cleve....")
