The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 26, July 1, 2007, Article 5

PBS HISTORY DETECTIVES TO FEATURE CONTINENTAL CURRENCY

Dick Johnson writes: "U.S. readers should check their local listings
this week for an episode of PBS History Detectives, one segment of
which will be on Continental Currency."

[Dick provided a link to the show's web site, which is excerpted
below. -Editor]

"CONTINENTAL CURRENCY
AIRING: Season 5, Episode 2
THE DETECTIVE: Gwen Wright
THE PLACE: New York City
THE CASE: Between the pages of a book, a family in Omaha, Nebraska
has found a puzzling $6 bill dated February 17, 1776.

"The bill's text and designs are replete with mysteries and clues.
How could it claim to be federal currency when it's dated five months
before the colonies actually declared their independence? Why does it
say it's backed by "Spanish milled dollars"? What do the strange
images on it mean?

"Britain rightfully considered these monies sheer provocation, and
reacted by flooding the market with counterfeit bills. Is our bill
real - or perhaps real fakery?

"History Detectives investigates an artifact that could represent
America's first declaration of its independence."

For more information on the program, see: Full Story

[As noted in last week's London Diary, I recently purchased examples of
the Nazi WWII "Operation Bernhard" counterfeits of British banknotes.  I
know colonial U.S. paper money was often counterfeited, and recall reading
of some British efforts to counterfeit notes of the revolting colonies,
but don't recall reading about any "flooding" of the market with British-
made counterfeits.  Were the Brits more successful than the Nazis in
wartime counterfeiting?  Can anyone point us to particular resources for
information on this topic?  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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