May 10, 1780, North Carolina Colonial Currency, Six Hundred Dollars (Highest Denomination), “Crescit Sub Pondere Virtus” (Virtue grows under pressure) Motto, Very Fine.
Fr. NC-199. This important Revolutionary War period notes motto translates, “Virtue grows under pressure” and we are quite certain that at that time General George Washington would agree. This typeset printed thin laid paper note by James Davis has a pleasing evenly circulated appearance. It is fully signed though one signature is faded the other by Jonathan Cooke is legible. Being the highest and most scarce denomination of this entire issue, the Friedberg reference lists it a “Very Rare” while it is valued at triple the lower values in Very Fine is the 2008 5th edition of Newman. For those worrying about the current Federal Reserve Note depreciation, This 1780 North Carolina issue depreciated to $800 for $1. (In 1780 Virginia, their currency depreciated $1,000 to $1.) But take solace, as currently this notes value as a rare tangible collectible is increasing in its value! An underrated rare denomination lacking in most collections.