 Colony of Rhode Island. December 2, 1740. Twenty Shillings (One Pound). No.2027. ''Signed'' by John Potter, John Gardner, and John Dexter. A Contemporary Counterfeit, so cited by Newman and characteristics to the Newman plate note. Printed on thick, laid paper. 88mm by 122mm. Printed, face and back, in black from plates copied from designs by John Coddington. Basket of fruit at the top, three sided ornate details around the text. In the text, the denomination is expressed in silver weight as ''2oz. 19dwt., 6gr''. At the lower left, Arms with motto IN TE DOMINE SPERAVI (In you, Lord, I have hope) around anchor. Back with ornate frame with denomination and date.
Clearly a counterfeit and an infamous one at that. This note has the diagnostic ink smear more towards the top center and some plate weakness at the lower left. The bottom of the back is endorsed in contemporary pen ''Rec'd this Bill of Doctor Stephen/Tallman of Portsmouth in/Bristol sometime in Octob. 1741/[signed] James Lawton''. At one time, many years ago, there must have been several of these from a counterfeiting case evidence packet. Tallman was the brother-in-law of John Potter (an authorized signer). Extremely Fine or better. A light horizontal fold and some minor trimming into the border lines. Even as a counterfeit, an important type. Choice and very intriguing.
Counterfeits of this note forced the subsequent recall of this issue by late 1742. Although this note is not a direct link, it is interesting that one of the authorized signers would have a forger in the family. It certainly could not have been good for Potter's career. The Newman Plate note (page 378) was the DuPont example (Smythe, March 30, 1993, lot 2301) that sold for $3,300. That example also had the characteristic plate ink smear at the upper left.
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