Historic Colonial-Era Money Printed by Franklin and Revere in Auction

Kagin’s Auctions of Tiburon California will be offering Significant Notes from the John J. Ford Colonial Currency Collection in their Part 2 online auction on September 23, 2023, at 4PM Pacific. The 216 lots constitute approximately 60% of the 375 notes of the entire collection which is considered one of the finest collections of Colonial Bank Notes.

by Kagins | Published on September 6, 2023

Catalog Cover of the John J. Ford Colonial Currency Collection: Online Auctions

Part 1 concluded on May 20, 2023, and included notes from the colonies of Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. With the buyers’ premium, they realized $464,721.60, including many individual record prices. Part 2 will include notes from the colonies of New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.

These important notes were previously in the collection of John J. Ford, a prominent New York City collector and influential dealer who passed away in 2005. Some of the notes are unique with no other examples known, and many others are the finest surviving 18 ^th century notes of their kind,” explained Dr. Donald Kagin, president of the auction company.

Some of the notes were printed by writer, inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin. One of the notes has the authorization signature of a signer of the declaration of Independence, William Ellery of Rhode Island.

Mr. Ford began assembling his collection of early American money in the 1940s assembling the finest ever collections of these notes. His collection was first sold in five Stacks auctions from May 2004 until March 2007. It included some of his finest and rarest specimens many of which were used for the standard reference, "The Early Paper Money of America" by numismatic scholar Eric P. Newman. Fully 14 Newman plate notes are offered in Part 2.

Highlights include a New York July 20, 1711 4s and a high-grade Rhode Island February 2, 1741/42, 6 pence note. A unique Rhode Island August 16, 1710, 2s note and the much-in-demand Vermont February 1781, 40s notes will no doubt be the stars of this sale.

In cooperation with the publisher of Greensheet, Kagin’s is offering the latest 2023 6 ^th edition of "The Early Paper Money of America" at the discounted price of $100 including shipping or free to successful purchasers of $10,000 or more from the auction.

To register to bid or additional information about the auction, contact Kagin’s Auctions by phone at 888-852-4467 or visit online at www.Kagins.com.