RARE GREEN SEAL "FLOATING JUGS" $2 NOTE FROM THE COLLECTION OF ERIC P. NEWMAN.

GA-72d. 1776 Green Seal "Floating Jugs" $2 Note. Serial no. 7904. Printed in black and red. Affixed seal printed in green ink. Signed by Benjamin Andrew, Samuel Saltus, William Evans, William O'Bryen, and William Ewen. 4 7/8 x 2 1/2 in.

Provenance: Eric P. Newman Collection

An extremely rare variant of the $2 issued by Georgia in 1776 from the collection of preeminent early American currency collector and scholar, Eric P. Newman (1911-2017). He authored over 13 numismatic books, notably The Early Paper Money of America, which remains the standard reference work, now in its fifth edition. 

The number of bills issued in Georgia in 1776 and 1777 is difficult to determine for several reasons, including irregular authorizations by the Council of Safety, lost records during the British occupation of Savannah, and inexperienced printers after the official colony printer and Loyalist James Johnston had his shop confiscated. This also led to unstandardized borders, text colors, seal design, and colors. 

The seal affixed to this note is the design of two floating jugs, representing England and America, with the motto "Si Collidimus Frangimur" [if we collide we break]. This variant was originally printed with orange ink, but was replaced by greenish ink once the original supply was exhausted. 

References:
Bruce Hagen & Stuart Levine. Continental and Colonial Currency. 

Eric P. Newman. The Early Paper Money of America. 

[Currency, Tokens, Medals,  Numismia, Numismatics, Exonumia, Bonds, Coins, Banknotes] [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe] 

Slabbed and graded by Professional Coin Grading Services as "Very Fine 25." Apparent Splits, tears and minor edge damage. Repairs to lower edge visible on verso. Minor Stains. Mounting remnants to verso.