1786 Description of Pewter Continental Currency Pieces

THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL. Boston, Wednesday, May 17, 1786. Vol. V, No. 17. Tabloid [35.5 by 23.5 cm] 4 pages. Removed from previous binding. Very good. The second page includes a notable article that starts off by discussing the Nova Constellatio coinage before digressing into a highly interesting account of the pewter Continental Currency pieces: “The American Congress have lately made a copper coinage, which is now in general circulation. One side of the half-penny bears this circular inscription, Libertas et Justitia; round a central cypher U.S. On the reverse is a sun rising amidst Thirteen Stars, circularly inscribed, Constellatio nova. The first money struck by the Congress in America is become exceedingly scarce, and only to be met with in the cabinets of the curious. They coined several pieces of pewter of about an inch and a half in diameter, and of 240 grains in weight; on one side of which were inscribed, in a circular ring near the edge, the words—Continental Currency; 1776—and within the ring a rising sun, shining upon a dial, with the word—fugio—at the fide of it; under which were the words Mind your business. On the reverse were 13 small circles, joined together like the rings of a chain, on each of which was inscribed the name of some one of the Thirteen States. On another circular ring, within these was inscribed—American Congress—and in the central space—We are one.” Syd Martin published this article in the C4 Newsletter for Winter 2003 and entered into correspondence with Eric P. Newman on the subject. An original signed letter from Newman, with two relevant photocopies, accompanies this lot.