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Province of ye Massachusetts Bay. June 20, 1744. Counterfeit Three Pence, New Tenor (One Shilling, O

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Province of ye Massachusetts Bay. June 20, 1744. Counterfeit Three Pence, New Tenor (One Shilling, O
SOLD
3,500.00USD+ buyer's premium (700.00)
This item SOLD at 2023 May 22 @ 13:22UTC-7 : PDT/MST
Province of ye Massachusetts Bay. June 20, 1744. Counterfeit Three Pence, New Tenor (One Shilling, Old Tenor). Fr. MA-121CF. PCGS Extremely Fine-40 Details. Repaired Pinholes, Small Edge Split. As illustrated.

Description: Laid paper. Serial No.11442. “Signed” by J. Jeffries and R. Hale. 95mm by 120mm. Two-Sided. “Printed from a weaker plate with poor details and some blatant evidence of spuriousness are present when compared to the genuine,” according to the Ford cataloger. The note was called “Choice Very Fine or better” in Ford, and PCGS thought even finer of the quality. The centering is even, the reverse imprint perhaps a trifle higher than center. The signatures were well-copied by the deceitful issuer. In this era, counterfeiting was risky business for a few ill-gotten pence or shillings. Most convicted counterfeiters of the era were branded with a large “C” on their forehead, had an ear lopped off, and were then thrown in jail for good measure, often for life! But back to the note itself. The visual and physical quality are grand despite the lighter inking, and the note will stand up well to inquisitive eyes looking into the PCGS qualifiers. Beautiful and rare!

Pedigree: From Stack’s sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, May, 2004, Lot 534. (Ford Pride Realized: $6,037.50)
FR#: MA-121CF
Grading Service: PCGS
Grade: Extremely Fine 40 details
Ford Price Realized: $6,037.5