The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 20, May 16, 2004, Article 9

MONEY IN VIRGINIA, 1773-1774

Earlier this week, Roger Moore posted the following on
the Colonial Numismatics newsletter. It is reprinted here
with permission.

"I bought a book on eBay the other day which I just
finished reading. It is called, "Journal & Letters of Philip
Vickers Fithian 1773-1774: A Plantation Tutor of the
Old Dominion". It is an actual diary of a young Princeton
graduate who travels to Virginia to tutor the children of a
plantation owner. I bought the book, hoping to find some
mention of the Virginia coinage which was released in
1774. Though I found no such reference, the book
supplies a wonderful insight into the daily life in Virginia
during the colonial period. Of interest I have extracted
a few coin related items:

December 7, 1773 - "The expence of an Orange, half a
Bit."

December 25, 1773 - "So the sum of my Donations to
the Servants for this Christmas appears to be five Bits,
a Bit is a pisterene bisected; or an English sixpence,
and passes here for seven pence Halfpenny..."

January 10, 1774 - "I have plenty of Money with me,
but it is in Bills of Philidelphia currency & will not
passs at all here."

There is a lot of mention of what he paid for
various services and things as well as an accounting
of the cost of his travel from NJ to VA. and back.
Interesting reading."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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