12 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM 



The designs are described as follows : 



One Dollar. — Acanthus plant sprouting up around a basket which is held 

 down by a heavy tile. The motto, Depressa Rcsurgit, "Though pressed down, 

 it will rise again," meaning that although the country had been kept down by 

 a foreign power it would eventually rise in strength and beauty. 



Two Dollars. — A hand with flail about to thresh out a sheaf of wheat. The 

 motto, Tribulatio Detat, "Affliction enriches." Showing the hard blows they 

 must expect to receive will eventually rebound to their own good. 



Three Dollars. — ^An aerial flight between a crane and an eagle in which the 

 weaker bird has decidedly the best of it, for while each bird has clasped the 

 other's claws and the eagle is uppermost, his neck is pierced by the long bill 

 of the crane, making it difficult for him to strike his antagonist. The motto, 

 Exitus Indubioest, "The end is certain." 



Four Dollars. — A wild boar charging on a spear, motto, Aut-Mors-Aut-P'ita- 

 Decora, "Either death or an honorable life." 



Five Dollars. — A thorny bush which has been grasped by an openhand from 

 which the blood is dropping. The motto, Sustine-V el-Ahstine , "Sustain or 

 abstain." 



Six Dollars. — Beaver gnawing at a tree, the motto being Perseverando, the 

 motto intending tQ show that the greatest obstacles can be overthrown by 

 the smaller party. 



Seven Dollars. — ^A storm, the rain coming down in thick streams over hill 

 and valley while black clouds roll above. The motto, Serenabit, "It will 

 clear up," meaning all cheer up. 



Nine Dollars. — A thirteen-stringed harp with the motto, Majora-Mil-Nori- 

 bus-Constant, "The greater and smaller ones all sound together." To give 

 encouragement to the smaller States as well as the larger. 



Tzuenty Dollars. — The ocean with mediaeval device of a face blowing on it 

 from out of the clouds. The motto, Vi Concitatce, "Driven by force," the 

 waves of course representing the people, the wind England, which is forcing 

 them to rise up in self-defense. This bill differs from the rest of the series 

 in every respect. The shape is narrower and longer ; it has no engraved 

 border, but has a chain linked around the four sides with "Continental Cur- 

 rency" in chain letters at top. It is printed on white paper, soft and porous, 

 while all the other are printed on stiff paper, dull color, with mica and blue 

 silk threads inserted. The left end is marbled in various colors. The reverse 

 is also different, with a mixed border and having a circular vignette at left 

 end, which motto reads, Cessantcvento Conquiesccmus, "The wind ceasing, 

 we will be cheerful," representing the sun spreading its rays over the ocean 

 upon which are sailing two ships ; also the words "Continental Currency, 

 Twenty Dollars." This is the rarest note of the series, only ii,8oo bills 

 having been printed, while 49,000 of all the other denominations were issued. 



On the 24th of July, 1775, another million dollars of bills of the denomina- 

 tion of $30.00 were printed, but the date on the note remained as before. 

 The style is similar to the values on the obverse, while the reverse contains 

 the vignettes of both sides of the $20.00 last described. The design on the 

 face of the $30.00 bill is a small tomb with a large laurel wreath on it, with 

 the motto, Si-Recte-Facies, "If thou shall do well." A wreath on an altar 



