Pennsylvania Three Pence Colonial Currency Note, April 20th, 1781, Plate A
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
April 20th, 1781
This colonial banknote is a Pennsylvania Three Pence currency note issued on April 20th, 1781. The note was authorized under the Act of April 7, 1781, intended for the support of the Continental Army and for the exchange of previous currency issues.
Printed by John Dunlap, the printer of the first copies of the Declaration of Independence, the note features a distinctive internal watermark reading 'PENSYL VANIA'. The design includes the denomination and legal tender statement, with the text 'THIS Bill shall pass current for Three Pence, according to an Act of General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the 7th day of April, in the year 1781. Dated the 20th day of April, 1781.' The note is identified as Plate A and carries the serial number 2888.
It is preserved in a slab and noted for having four wide margins on both sides. This artifact represents a specific period of American colonial financial history during the Revolutionary War era.
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
- Margins
- four wide margins
Technical characteristics
- Plate
- A
- Watermark
- PENSYL VANIA
- Denomination
- Three Pence
- Serial number
- 2888
Design
- Text
- THIS Bill shall pass current for Three Pence, according to an Act of General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the 7th day of April, in the year 1781. Dated the 20th day of April, 1781.
- Issuing authority
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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
- John Dunlap
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Research required
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- 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.