1775 was a VERY good year for America!!

Why collect 1775 Colonial Currency? 

Our early American history -- from a political, social, and certainly economical perspective -- is fascinating. Fortunately, for all currency enthusiasts, this history is exemplified in the first American currency, lovingly referred to as colonial currency. Colonial currency provided financial incentives and means to build America and win the Revolutionary War. 

So many of my colleagues and clients are aggressively collecting Colonial Currency notes dated 1776. This is totally understandable as most of us believe the real birth of our nation took place during that year. Certainly, we are all aware that the US Congress proclaimed the Declaration of Independence – Independence from Great Britain – on July 4^th, 1776.

But what about 1775? Significantly, the first year of the American Revolutionary War was 1775 during which the second Continental Congress acted as a war government and created the US Army (June 14), Navy (October 27), and Marines (November 10). All Americans owe their freedoms to these institutions – institutions established in 1775! 

And what else happened during that critically essential year? Here are just a few of the most significant 

historical events of 1775: 

[ March 23, 1775] Patrick Henry loudly declares, “Give me liberty or give me death” during a speech he made asking for Virginian troops to join the revolutionary war. 

[April 18, 1775] Paul Revere and William Dawes made their famous midnight ride from Charleston to Lexington, warning that the British “regulars” were coming. 

 The shot that was “heard around the world” was fired on April 19, 1775,  the day the American Revolution began and a day later, the British took siege of Boston.

On May 10^th George Washington was named supreme commander. Just 14 days later, John Hancock was elected Continental Congress President

June 14 1775 saw the founding of our US Army Navy and on June 17, the Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) began. 

July 17^th saw the establishment of the first American military hospital and on July 26^th, Ben Franklin founded the United States Post Office. 

On December 3^rd, the first official US flag (Grand Union Flag) was raised aboard the Naval ship USS Alfred. By December 22, the “American” Continental Navy had seven ships. 

Notes produced during the Revolutionary War have seen great interest, with the idea that those notes display powerful patriotic symbolism and may have been placed in the pockets of patriot soldiers as they took arms against the British. So why not collect notes from the first and most important year – 1775? 

Now is the time to invest in colonial currency; affordable prices will NOT last! Large numbers of new currency collectors are reaching retirement age and are “in droves” contributing to higher demand and higher prices.

Proudly, Treasuredstocks.com has excellent examples of Colonial Currency notes from each of the 13 colonies as well as the Continental Congress issues. Call us at 870-670-4255 or email jeff@treasuredstocks.com  for help and support, as you venture into Colonial Note Set collection. 

For more information about this and other collect able coins and currency, please visit our web site at http://www.treasuredstocks.com/or email  jeff@treasuredstocks.com

 

A Healthy, Peaceful Veteran's Day to All

America’s Original Currency, 
a tribute to all Americans past and present! 

World War I ended on 11 November 1918 – Veteran's Day and in honor of another GREAT war, the Revolutionary War, all Americans cherish America’s Original Currency.

Our early American history -- from a political, social, and certainly economical perspective -- is fascinating. Fortunately, for all currency enthusiasts, this history is exemplified in the first American currency, lovingly referred to as colonial currency. Colonial currency provided financial incentives and means to build America and win the Revolutionary War. Certainly, colonial currency helped supply our Continental Army and feed and clothe early colonists. 

Colonial Currency notes are unique works of art and demonstrate incredible sophistication in counterfeit prevention, multi-color production techniques, engravings, woodcuts, logos, and political insignias and slogans. From Maryland to Georgia, these diverse currency items were expertly crafted by local artisans, engravers, and printers. Looking at each note, you will touch this history, feel the strength and determination of these early patriots, and wonder at the skill and splendor each note demonstrates. 

Colonial notes are rare, sought-after, desirable but, surprisingly, well within reach of most collectors. Market values placed on these notes are based on condition, demand, and rarity; the original value of the notes is far less significant. For example, regardless of denomination, notes produced by Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere will have greater value due to greater interest and demand. Additionally, notes produced during the Revolutionary War have seen greater interest, with the idea that those notes display powerful patriotic symbolism and may have been placed in the pockets of patriot soldiers as they took arms against the British. 

Colonial currency collectors build collection sets in a number of ways. One common method is to collect a note from each of the original 13 colonies. Similarly, many collectors choose a “favorite” colony and collect samples of each of the emissions and/or denominations. Fortunately, internationally recognized grading services such as PCGS and PMG are now verifying and grading Colonial money. Thus, graded notes carry greater value and notes with higher grades command exceptional prices. 

Though the perception is that these notes are of a premium price, collectors are still able to find and purchase notes from all 13 colonies for a relatively fair price. Collections with all 13 colonies are then passed down from generation-to-generation, as family heirlooms, pride in our country, and outstanding investments.
Therefore, now is the time to invest in colonial currency; affordable prices will NOT last! Large numbers of new currency collectors are reaching retirement age and are “in droves” contributing to higher demand and higher prices.

Proudly, Treasuredstocks.com has excellent examples of Colonial Currency notes from each of the 13 colonies as well as the Continental Congress issues. Call us at 870-670-4255 or email jeff@treasuredstocks.com  for help and support, as you venture into Colonial Note Set collection. 

For more information about this and other collectable coins and currency, please visit our web site at http://www.treasuredstocks.com/or email  jeff@treasuredstocks.com

What if Operation Bernhard had worked as planned?

Operation Bernhard - 

A quiet rebellion like no other! 

Creating an economic and financial terrorist attack on the WWII British and allied forces was the mission and purpose of Operation Bernhard  (1942-1945). Though primarily a secret German attack on the British Pound, the US $100 bill was also included in this viscous plot.  

To date, Operation Bernhard produced the most dangerous assault on a financial empire in recorded history. 

 The Operation Bernhard plot was conceived during Germany’s early WWII secret Nazi efforts to destroy Briton’s economic base as well as its financial future. The goal was to mass produce counterfeit Bank of England (BOE) British pounds – £5, £10, £20, £50 denominations – and then flood the UK with the worthless notes causing wide-spread economic inflation and collapse. Named after the plan’s director and operations manager, SS Major Bernhard Kruger, Operation Bernhard  (he named the plot after himself) is considered history’s largest counterfeiting campaign. 

Kruger gathered up an initial expert counterfeit team of 142 Jewish prison camp inmates. He found his victims in Sachsenhausen, Auschwitz, and other concentration camps. (Sachsenhausen was the primary location of this operation.) This counterfeit team of prisoners was forced to engrave the ornate and complicated printing press plates. They also had to develop methods for producing the special rag-based paper and watermarks. Most importantly, these Jewish inmates developed techniques for breaking the BOE code needed in order to generate authentic serial numbers. Thus, these notes are considered some of the most perfect counterfeit notes ever made. 

Fortunately, it was the tenacity and heroism of the people of England that ultimately saved their country from economic ruin. The original plan was to take plane loads of these counterfeit notes and drop them onto the UK countryside. Fortunately, the German Air Force did not have enough planes to effectively complete the mission – their air force was occupied with bombing Great Britain and fighting off the Royal British Air Force pilots and crew. Simultaneously, Operation Bernhard was transferred to the SS foreign intelligence. 

At its peak, about 1 million BOE notes were printed each and every month. As an aside, though $100 bills of US currency were created by Operation Bernhard’s expert counterfeit team, full production was halted on February 22, 1945 and the US $100 printing press destroyed. 

Most, but not all of these counterfeit BOE notes were discovered by divers in 1959, at the bottom of Lake Toplitz. (this Austrian lake was near the final location of the counterfeit team). Tons of notes were dumped there in 1945 by the Nazis, just before surrender. Evidence suggests that some notes “escaped” and were used by the Jewish underground to purchase needed equipment and supplies and to finance Jewish immigration to Israel. Additionally, German SS officers laundered counterfeit notes in Northern Italy and then used them as payment for imported goods, espionage services, and rescue operations. 

Operation Bernhard Bank of England (BOE) notes are increasingly rare, in high demand, and highly collectible. Those from the bottom of Lake Toplitz show significant water damage, caused by over a decade of under-water existence. Others, which entered circulation during and after WWII are occasionally seen in currency auctions and war museums.

If these Operation Bernhard  notes could talk, what would they say of the starvation, hardship, torture, and overwhelming fear endured by their creators? What would they say of the failed German scheme to hit the UK at its financial core?

 Finally, what would these Operation Bernhard counterfeit  notes tell us about the real power of our human spirit? 

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For a look at some highly valued, rare, and collectible currency, visit us at 

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our coin and currency postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types.

We are here to assist you! Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com