January 18, 1777, Pennsylvania, Five Pence, Private Issue Note (Joseph Ogden) Middle-Ferry on Schuylkill, Remainder, Gem Crisp Uncirculated.
Fr. PA-275. Joseph Ogden was the operator of the “Middle Ferry” on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia during the 1777 Revolutionary War. His typeset printed notes like this being exceptional quality example being offered were used to make change and facilitate his collection of fares. The top and right margins of this note include the original wide sheet selvage. This virtually perfect uniface note is very well printed on excellent paper with some of its original printing press text embossing still present in the crisp exceptional quality paper.
Apparently Ogden made a unique contribution to the war effort as witnessed by the fact that he was sent to Walnut Street Prison in Philadelphia by the British for impeding them at the ferry on at least one occasion. According to Charles Burr Ogden's 1898 book, The Quaker Ogdens in America, "fractional currency issued by Joseph Ogden in paper form was freely taken by storekeepers and teamsters as far west as Pittsburg, Pa. All issues were redeemed in cash after the close of the war." This exemplary record of redemption probably accounts for the fact that all known surviving examples are either individual remainders or part of uncut sheets of remainders.