May 6, 1776, “Virginia Ordinance” Issue Colonial Currency, Rare Four Pounds or Eighty Shillings highest denomination, PMG graded Choice Fine-15.
Fr. VA-101. “Very Rare” listed or with only dashes in both the Newman & Friedberg references. This Uniface May 6, 1776 Revolutionary War “Virginia Ordinance” currency note is lacking in most collections. This note is fully signed by Richard Morris and George Seaton. It is well printed and centered on the face side with nice clear details on the standard thick rag paper. The “Arms of Virginia” (engraved by Robert Scott) is displayed at upper left within decorative outer border cuts. A “Key” rarity from this 1776 date with only 1,000 notes printed with all notes issued to be redeemed by January 1st, 1784 back into the Treasury and destroyed. *Note - PMG states having a tape repair (at the top center centerfold edge that appears to be a tiny, near invisible, piece of an old stamp hinge from prior mounting... not tape). The only other Four Pounds example we could trace was sold in the Ford Collection sale, graded Very Fine (with problems), that note realized $1,380 back in 2007. This exceedingly rare denomination presents an important opportunity for Virginia currency specialists.