Note Highlights Issuer: Colony of Rhode Island Date of Issue: July 2, 1776 Denomination: $1/16 (Sixteenth of a Dollar) Reference: Friedberg RI-241 Grade: PMG VF25 (Very Fine) – Circulated with moderate wear but strong detail Serial Number: Unknown (not recorded on holder) Paper Type: Laid paper, printed by colonial presses of the era Design Features: Textual design with typeset lettering and ornamental borders Printed authorization of the Rhode Island General Assembly Signatures and serial number handwritten at issuance (though faded/absent here) Historical Significance Dated July 2, 1776, the same day the Continental Congress formally voted for independence, making it a direct artifact of Revolutionary America. Issued by Rhode Island as part of emergency wartime finance to pay soldiers, purchase supplies, and sustain the colonial government. Small denominations like this $1/16 note circulated widely among colonists, helping bridge coin shortages during the Revolutionary War. Collectibility Colonial Currency Appeal: Collectors highly value Rhode Island fractional notes for their tangible connection to the Revolution. Grade Rarity: At VF25, the note retains good readability and overall integrity—higher than most surviving small-denomination colonial notes, which often show heavy damage. Fractional Rarity: The $1/16 denomination is among the most interesting fractional issues, demonstrating how small sums were monetized during the crisis. A cornerstone piece for colonial currency specialists, Revolutionary War historians, or any U.S. type note collection.
