Paper Money Issues of the Colonies

Paper Money was first issued when the United States was still a group of British colonies. The first issue was from the Province off Massachusetts Bay in 1690. Prior to the Revolutionary War in 1775, Paper Money was issued by Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.

To Arm!! To Arms!!

The cry for the War of Independance required that the colonies issue a new type of currency to finance the war. Continental Currency, or Currency authorized by the Continental Congress was issued to do just that.


The Value of this paper money issue quickly dropped to near nothing giving birth to the phrase "Not worth a Continental" and scarring the US government on Paper Money Issues for over 30 years.

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