 Massachusetts Bay Colony. ''We Jointly and Severally Promise to pay Isaac Winslow,'' the ''Silver or Specie Bank''. August 1, 1740. Five Shillings. No.4370. Likely the Contemporary Counterfeit. ''Signed'' by Andrew Oliver, Edw. Hutchinson and James Boutineau. Verso ''signed'' by Isaac Winslow. Printed on laid paper. Uniface, a ''tall'' format note. Upper third with cartouche enclosing detailed text. Top detail with scalloped ornament, serial number at the upper right. Lower left, vignette of a small skiff in a cartouche with motto FIAT JUSTIA (Let there be justice). Cursive fonts and Troy equivalents. This Type Not in Ford III-F.C.C. Boyd Collection.
This is a rare and historic series that is written up in lengthy detail in our Ford III Sale catalogue of May, 2004. The notes are a direct and private response to emergency conditions of the time and also a statement to the Crown that in financial matters, when necessary, the mercantile class will take whatever steps are necessary to further commerce. Newman lists a Counterfeit of this type, the ''Skiff'', and this is the first we have handled. The plate style and details suggest this attribution as correct. This is a very rare note.
Until the three Silver Bank notes in Ford III, there were scant offerings of this series in the prior four decades. Difficult to grade as the note is severed across the horizontal and rejoined with hinges with a nearly half inch separation. Despite this, the note is 95% there with each ''half'' rather crisp and vivid. Impaired Fine is about accurate. The signatures are well accomplished in black. This type's absence from the major Ford III offering makes the currently offered specimen an opportunity for the Massachusetts specialist. Worthy of strong attention regardless of the ''challenged'' condition.
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