Delaware 1759 Twenty Shillings Colonial Currency Note, Printed by Benjamin Franklin
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
June 1, 1759
This colonial currency note from the Delaware government represents a Twenty Shillings denomination issued on June 1, 1759, during the French and Indian War period.
The note, cataloged as Fr. DE-68, was printed by Benjamin Franklin. The obverse features the text "This Indented Bill shall pass current for Twenty Shillings within the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware," and cites an Act of Assembly made in the 32nd year of the reign of King George II. It includes three signatures in brown ink. The reverse displays a lion vignette and the notable printed warning "To Counterfeit is DEATH."
The note is well-centered and printed on paper. An old mounting disturbance is present at the back bottom right corner, measuring approximately 0.5 inches, where the paper is thinned or carries extra material. Despite this, the lion vignette remains clear. This historical piece serves as an example of American colonial paper money production by one of the era's most prominent printers.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Damage
- mounting disturbance at back bottom right corner
- Material
- paper
Technical characteristics
- Printer
- Benjamin Franklin
- Denomination
- Twenty Shillings
Design
- Warning
- To Counterfeit is DEATH
- Obverse text
- This Indented Bill shall pass current for Twenty Shillings within the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware
- Reverse vignette
- Lion
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Benjamin Franklin
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Recorded
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.