 Province of the Massachusetts Bay. June 20, 1744. Two Pence, in ''New Tenor''. No.16265. Signed by S.(amuel) Welles and J. Heath. Printed on sturdy, laid paper. 93mm by 117mm. A ''tall'' format note, printed in black from engraved copper plates. The back with typeset denomination, specie equivalent and Old Tenor conversion. The plates for the 1741/42 and 1742 Redated issues were re-engraved with the new date.
A circle encloses the detailed text, at the sides are vined pillars and at the top a frieze with lion crowned and motto of the Garter, HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (Evil to him who thinks evil of it). At the lower left is the Royal Arms and at the lower right is the Massachusetts Seal. Re-engraved '1742' date from prior issue at the bottom. The back uses the reworked 1737 Five Pence face as a cartouche ('Two Pence', above 'Eleven Grains of Silver'); at the top 'Eight Pence, Old Tenor'. The fourth and final example of this rare Two Pence note from the Ford-Boyd Collection. Perhaps, printed from a different plate than the Serial No.1698, Serial No.7213 and Serial No.16085 (offered above) examples in the Ford-Boyd collection. The plate is degenerated on the face, but restrengthened moderately. Trimmed to the left and down, showing the note dividing lines at the top edge.
Very Fine, quarter folded with splits. However, very crisp and with wonderful eye appeal from the face. The back has a horizontal hinge tape repair and the bottom has a hinge tape repair from the bottom back across to the face and onto the signatures. The back has some minor, uniform soiling. A rare issue and a choice appearing example printed from a fairly strong plate.
It would seem likely that more than one plate would be in use. For one, the authorized issue was gigantic and the need for change bills on the frontier campaign would have been severe. Second of all, observation of the serial numbers in this collection and plate states make it logical that the plate could only take so much before cracking finally or not being able to accept any more re-engraving. The existence of four notes of this issue and denomination in one collection is unprecedented. This represents an incredible opportunity to add a pre-1750 Massachusetts note to a general collection or for specialists to select the note that most suits their collecting needs. Thirty years from now, serious Colonial note collectors will marvel at this opportunity as these notes will have been scattered far and wide into the next generation of well held and treasured holdings of serious numismatic Americana.
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