Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Collins Isaac (fl. 1776) Fifteen shilling note

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.226.02 Author/Creator: Collins Isaac (fl. 1776) Place Written: Burlington, New Jersey Type: Printed document signed Date: 25 March 1776 Pagination: 1 p. ; 5.6 x 10 cm. Order a Copy

[Currency]. Burlington, New Jersey: 25 March 1776. Fifteen shilling note. Printed by Isaac Collins. Signed by Robert Smith, Jonathan Deare and John [Smith?]. No. 17365.

Historical Background: An emission of £100,000 in legal tender bills of credit had been planned since May 10, 1768 but never obtained the consent of the English king. Following the outbreak of the Revolution the issue was emitted as proclamation money. The notes were made legal tender on September 20, 1776 and recalled by January 1, 1780. [excerpted from Jordan's "Colonial Currency."]

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