MORE ON THE ORIGINS OF THE CONTINENTAL DOLLAR

Before someone goes off track and chases a red-herring, be aware that the coin pictured in Allgemeines does not exist. That fact is made in the text, on page 180:

"Damit die Innschriften gleign volle Wirs fung thun mochten, sind fie, zum Behuf des Deutschen Lesers, übersetzt eingetragen."

"In order that the inscriptions might have full effect, they are, for the sake of the German reader, translated."

If I were researching this, I would not look to London. I have a hard time accepting the fact that anything such as this would be possible in London while we were in the middle of our Revolutionary War with England and also given the fact that all communication was by boat.

26 May 1783 Letter to Franklin
Also, there is the involvement of Benjamin Franklin, who was living just outside Paris during this time. Now, add in the fact that the publishers of Allgemeines wrote to Franklin while he lived in Paris asking him for illustrations of medals for that book and they then illustrated the Libertas Medal and the Continental Dollar. That's too much of a coincidence to simply ignore.

Berlin on 26 May 1783.

Sir.

With the intention of publishing, towards the end of September, an American Almanac in German for the coming year, and desiring to decorate it with several related prints, the composition of which should not be ideal; it is to you, Sir, and to your wallet, that must be very rich in all that relates to the history of the Anglo-American Colonies which I dare to resort to, although I do not have the honor of You to be known.

Let me briefly describe the plan of this Almanac, and then ask for your gracious assistance, either for information or for the very articles I need, and that no one is better off to provide me that You Sir!

Almanac will contain, in the first place, the history of the Revolution, according to the best Authors and the most veridical opinions which may have been obtained. This subject will be adorned with historical engravings, representing the most remarkable events of this war. In the second place: Gallery of the great men of America, with an account of their political or military career decorated with their portraits, copied from those drawn by Du Simitier at Philadelphia, and others which have appeared in England. Come You hold such a high rank among the great men of America, suffer that I ask you, if your portrait, as it was engraved in 1782 by Pelicier for the Essay on the Anglo-Americans, is enough resembling to serve as a model?

To make this gallery more complete, I would pass from great men to the celebrated men of America, and this is where I am in trouble for the following portraits:

John Adams's picture
      "    by Sr. Payne, Author of Common Sense
      "    of Warren, killed in Bunkers Hill
      "     Montgomery killed in Quebec
      "    by Sr. Paul Jones Commodore at the service of the 13 United States.

To these portraits I would like to be able to join the following pieces:

Mausoleum ordered by Congress to Dr. Warren.
"ditto" to the memory of Genl. Montgomery.

Medal struck by order of Congress on the occasion of the
      of Major André.
    "ditto on the occasion of peace to eternize
       of the Revolution

Form of the Pappier-monnoye
Coinage with the unifying symbols of the 13 states
The Weapons of the Thirteen States.
The Colored Treasury Pavilion
Uniform of American Troops, namely Regiments Washington and Gates, colorful.

The historical part of this Almanac being entrusted to one of our best historians, Sr. Sprengel, Professor of History at the University of Halle, who possesses the English and all the knowledge and qualities which constitute the good historian, I venture to flatter myself, that his work will deserve your approval. I therefore reserve to myself the honor of presenting him to you, and even through your mediation to the honorable Members of Congress, to whom I wish to pay tribute.

Forgive me, sir, in favor of this idea, that I may interrupt Your grave occupations by a hors d'oeuvre of this kind, and grant me the grace of deferring to my very humble request.

Finally, allow me to add, that the time here, at the end of September, which is fixed for the publication of the Almanacs of our country, is scarcely distant, and the execution of the various engravings requiring considerable time, furnishing as much as possible the materials which are wanting to me, you will add infinitely to the price of the benefit I am soliciting. Bis dat, which cito dat.

May it be lawful for me to show you here the veneration and respect most warmly felt, of which I am penetrated for the Philosopher and the statesman, that the two hemispheres in You! It is in these sentiments that I have the honor to be Monsieur Your very submissive and obedient

Charles Spener
Bookseller Image
Endorsed: Charles Spener 26 May 1783

I'm a little surprised that no one has yet mentioned the paper by Catherine Eagleton published in The Numismatic Chronicle for 2014, "Collecting America: Sarah Sophia Banks and the 'Continental Dollar' of 1776," pp. 293-301. Ms. Eagleton argues "that the piece may never have been intended as a coin at all, not struck in America, or even made in 1776."

She bases her conclusion on the catalog of the Sarah Sophia Banks collection, now in the British Museum: in the 1815 version of this catalog, following the entry for "Congress Dollar. 1776. never current, struck on speculation in Europe, for sale in America" appears an advertisement pasted in the catalog after the entry:

Thefe American MEDALS at
Six-Pence Each.

N. B. Representing the Paper Currency of a Dollar, which goes for
Four Shillings and Six-pence in that Country.

E X P L A N A T I O N.

         The Thirteen Colonies united like a Chain, with the names of each
     in the Ringlets, the Words, "AMERICAN CONGRESS" within,
     in the Center, "WE ARE ONE," and with Rays of the Sun
     fhooting to each Ringlet, as a Glory.

         The Reverfe is the Sun going round its Orbit, with a Motto
     "FUGIO," fignifying, I fly: under the Dial is "MIND YOUR BUSI-
     NESS." The Date, 1776, is the time they declared Independency.

The Letters, E. G, FECIT, its maker's Name.

Ms. Eagleton did not have the benefit of Eric P. Newman and Maureen Levine's article "18th-Century Writings on the Continental Currency Dollar Coin," The Numismatist July 2014, pp. 34-57, because she mentions "contemporary references confirming that the Continental Dollar was made before 1786" (p. 299). In fact, as Eric and Maureen have pointed out, crediting me for the discovery, the Continental Dollar was mentioned in a poem published in New York November 6, 1779 and illustrated as early as 1784.

The advertisement is new to me, however. My own opinion (as of now) is that the Continental Dollars were originally coined in 1776-78 as speculative patterns in the hope of obtaining a coinage contract, but the effort died, the Continental Congress never going so far as even to appoint a committee to study the matter. But it has always seemed as though there are too many of them around in uncirculated condition for this purpose, and it would now appear that some dies were taken to England after the Revolution (the Continental Dollar is listed in a catalog of the Banks collection made "in or before 1790") and copies restruck there.

(Note: the omission of the dollar denomination from the paper money emission of July 22, 1776, continuing to January 14, 1779, is NOT evidence that the Continental Dollar was intended to fill the gap; there was already a dollar coin in circulation, the Spanish Milled Dollar.)

It seems clear to me that at least SOME "1776" Continental Dollars were struck in London in 1783; this fits well with Du Simitiere's statement and the first illustration in 1783, plus the Banks Collection example.

Congress will nobly pay him for his pains,
Of pewter dollars what both hands can hold;
A thimble full of plate, a mite of gold;
The lands of some big Tory he shall get,
And strut a famous col’nel en brevet,
And last to honor him, (we scorn to bribe,)
We’ll make him chief of the Oneida tribe.

it doesn't say continental dollars, it says pewter dollars. Reading back through it I don't think it's very applicable here. I have a book from 1769 with a similar reference to 'pewter dollars' and the only thing it does prove is that that term was in use before 1776, and, it could discredit that poem.

The Congratulation (http://www.historycarper.com/1779/11/06/the-congratulation/)

1. Du Simitiere wrote, in 1783 or 1784, that the Continental Dollar was "Struckt in London on Type-Metal, and dated 1776." (Orosz, pp. 26-7)

2. The earliest illustration of a Continental Dollar appears IN EUROPE in late 1783.

3. The Sarah Sophia Banks collection of London contained thousands of coins by 1791. Circa 1815, her Continental Dollar was cataloged as "Congress Dollar. 1776. never current, struck on speculation in Europe, for sale in America." An accompanying ad offers them for sixpence each, adding "The Date, 1776, is the time they declared Independency. The Letters E. G. Fecit, its makers Name."

4. No record authorizing it has been found in the papers of the Continental Congress for 1776.

5. In Boston, the January 1, 1789 issue of the Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser denied that there ever was such a coin as the Continental Dollar. Likewise, on February 21, 1790, Paul Revere wrote, "as for pewter money struck in America, I never saw any, and I have made carefull (sic) inquiry" (both citations from Newman and Levine, p. 50).

Were this any other coin, we would have no hesitation in attributing it to European speculators in 1783, a time when a U.S. coinage was being seriously considered (the Nova Constellatio coppers were issued that year).

Against this attribution is the reference in the satirical 1779 poem to Congress paying "pewter dollars," but perhaps this should not be taken literally.

Also, in 1911, Gallaudet family historian Edward Miner Gallaudet informed a relative that EG FECIT stood for 18th-century New York engraver Elisha Gallaudet (Newman and Levine pp. 51-2). While Elisha Gallaudet is chronologically possible for 1783 as well as 1776, and the Continental Dollar dies COULD have been engraved in New York for striking in London, he offered no evidence and this could merely be wishful thinking. Engravers with the initials E G should be looked for in England.