United States Continental Currency Fifty Dollars
Anonymous, American, 18th century American
Printer Hall and Sellers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania American
Not on view
Emissions totaling $75,001,080 payable in Spanish milled dollars, or the equivalent in gold or silver, were authorized by nine separate resolutions between September 26, 1778 and July 17, 1779. A large portion was authorized and issued simultaneously with the issue of January 14, 1779. Denominations printed were the: $5, $7, $8, $20, $30, $40, $50 and $60.
On the fifty dollar bill, issued on the 26th of September, 1778, is a picture of an unfinished pyramid. Thirteen layers of stone, representing the thirteen Confederated States, are seen. The motto is PERENNIS — "Everlasting," or "Enduring." — The incomplete pyramid denotes the expectation that other states would be added in time. The motto implies that the Confederated States, while in union, would have an enduring existence. On the back of this bill are three Indian arrows on the wing
