Learn About the Six Versions of the 1776 Continental Dollar
Like several other American colonial coins, the Continental Dollar is an important but mysterious coin. They are often called “Dollars” or more commonly “Currency” but the true denomination is unknown. Most experts peg it at “One Dollar’.
Continental paper currency had a ‘One Dollar’ denomination note in its issues from May 10, 1775, through May 6, 1776, but that denomination note was excluded until the last regular issue of Continental paper currency in 1779. It is strongly believed that this was intentional and that a Continental Currency Dollar coin would be used in conjunction with these currency notes. Additionally, the coins created were roughly similar in size to the Spanish Milled Dollars of that era. But no records mentioning the Continental Currency Dollar have ever been discovered in the records of the Continental Congress.
Benjamin Franklin created the symbolic images that were commemorated on the Continental Currency and on these Continental Currency Dollars. The linked rings representing the colonies and the sundial with FUGIO” and the admonishment “MIND YOUR BUSINESS” was all Franklin’s doing.
The most common variety is that struck in Pewter with the “CURENCY” spelling. The Central vignette is a sundial with the sun and rays above it. Below the sundial is the admonishment “MIND YOUR BUSINESS” and we aren’t certain whether Franklin was directing that towards Great Britain to keep out of American affairs or to the average colonist, encouraging them to work in their own profession. The Latin word “FUGIO” (Time Flies) is in a central ring surrounding the sundial. Around the outer periphery is “CONTINENTAL CURENCY 1776”.
The reverse has 13 linked concentric rings, each with the name of a different colony. In the center are the words on three lines “WE -A RE-ONE”. The outer central ring is two words “AMERICAN CONGRESS.”
The next Continental Dollar is exactly the same design as the first coin, except that the word CURRENCY is spelled correctly. All other elements are exactly the same.
The next variety has “EG FECIT” inscribed on the inner ring where the word FUGIO is also inscribed. “EG FECIT” translates to “EG made this.” The EG in question is Elisha Galludet, who also engraved some plates for the Continental Currency issue, dated February 17, 1776. The coins are otherwise the same.
The next variety is extremely rare and desirable. The “EG FECIT” remains, although it looks like “IG” rather than “EG”, and CURRENCY is correctly spelled, but this issue was struck in Silver! Truly the very first Silver dollar struck by the United States! One of only TWO examples known!
(A truly Amazing EG FECIT Continental Currency Dollar, in Silver. Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
The 5th variety is a pewter coin where the word “CURRENCY” is spelled as “CURRENCEY”. ”EG FECIT” is missing. This is one of only 4 known coins.
(1776 Continental Currency spelled “CONTINENTAL CURRENCEY,” Dollar. Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
The 6th and FINAL variety of Continental Currency Dollar is known as the Ornamental or Floriated Cross variety and is one of only three coins known to exist.
(The 6th and FINAL Variety of 1776 Continental Currency Dollar with Ornamentation at the date. Obverse [right], Reverse {left]).
The Pewter examples number about 6,000 examples and only a few hundred examples continue to exist. Pewter, still scarce, has numerous die marriages.
The location of the mint that was likely to have struck these coins is unknown but thought to be in New York City.
| Date | Type | Mintage | VF Value | Unc Value |
| 1776 | Pewter, CURENCY | Est. 2,000 | $30,000 | $80,00 |
| 1776 | Pewter, CURRENCY | Est. 2,000 | $70,000 | $325,000 |
| 1776 | Pewter, “E. G – Fecit” | Est. 2.000 | $20,000 | $125,000 |
| 1776 | Silver | 2 Known | $40,000 | $125,000 |
| 1776 | Pewter, CURRENCEY | 4 Known | $17,500 | $95,000 |
| 1776 | Pewter, Ornamental Date | 3 Known | $70,000 | $300,000 |
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