Paul Revere’s best-known copper plate engraving might be of the Boston Massacre, but notaphilists are probably aware that he engraved a number of copper plates used to print Massachusetts and New Hampshire paper money. Two “Codfish Notes” with one Paul Revere-engraved side will be offered in our Spring 2023 Auction.
Among Revere’s many contributions to the fledgling United States was as a money printer. He had printed colonial fiscal documents before the Revolution and his engraving skill would be called upon numerous times during the conflict as the colonial governments sought to raise money to pay soldiers and buy materiel.
The term “Codfish Notes” refers to a range of Massachusetts colonial paper money featuring the image of a codfish at the top-center of the notes’ faces. Paul Revere engraved the faces of both notes we’re offering in the U.S. Currency Sessions of our Spring 2023 Auction, one a 4-shilling note of the Oct. 18, 1776 emission, the other a 4 shilling 6 pence note of Oct. 16, 1778. The latter is thought to be the finest known of its catalog number.
To view other lots and bid in our Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring Expo, visit StacksBowers.com.