A piece of Revolutionary War dated Continental Currency co-signed by two Patriot creditors recto: the wealthy Jewish merchant Benjamin Levy (1726-1802) as "B Levy"; and Thomas Donnellan (fl. 1777) as "T. Donnellan." The note is numbered 20481 and was the equivalent of "Eight Spanish milled dollars, or the Value thereof in Gold or Silver" as passed in accordance with a Continental Congressional resolution passed at Baltimore on February 26, 1777. Printed with four margins of varying sizes on both sides. The central design on the front depicts a figural harp, with borders reading "The United Colonies / Continental Currency." "Printed by Hall & Sellers. 1777" appears verso. Expected wear including even toning, isolated fading and stains. Trimmed to an overall size of 2.875" x 3.75." Else near fine.

Benjamin Levy was a Jewish merchant with ties to New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Levy was one of seven prominent Jewish colonial merchants to sign the 1765 resolutions boycotting British goods following the Stamp Act. A major financier of the American Revolution, he was authorized to sign Patriot bills of credit like this one after December 1776.

During the 4-year period from 1775-1779, the Continental Congress authorized 11 different issuances of Continental Currency, according to the Massachusetts Historical Society. Together, these currency runs constituted a value of 226 million Spanish milled dollars, or over 80% of the federal government's income at that time. By 1779, the practice of circulating Continental Currency in paper bills was discontinued due to inflation and counterfeiting. Funding the war effort, as well as the new federal government, remained a pressing concern for the Patriots.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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