In 1703, South Carolina became the second colony to issue paper money. . Massachusetts, in 1690, was the first.
South Carolina colonial paper money issued prior to 1775 is rare. I have one note from 1748 which I purchased from
the John J Ford Collection Auction Number 3. All four(!) of the 1748 notes in the Ford collection were in low grade.
I believe the note I purchased was the second finest. The Ford collection contained nearly all of the known 1748
notes. Colonial notes from the Ford collection were auctioned between 2004 and 2007. The Ford collection was the
most comprehensive collection of colonial paper money ever assembled. He purchased several old time collections in
the early to mid 1900s that formed the core of his collection. Some of the notes in his collection had been "off the
market" for over 100 years prior to the auctions over the past 3 years.
The remaining notes in my collection were issued between 1775 and 1779. Many of the notes from this time period are
also rare. There were 10 issues, or Acts, of notes between 1775 and 1779. I have at least one example from all of the
issues except June 10, 1775. I have listed the 1748 issue and all of the issues and denominations from the 1775 to
1779 time period. Some of the denominations from the different series are quite rare, or even non-existent, and I have
not had the opportunity to purchase an example.
Click on link to view notes from a particular series:
June 10, 1775. Issued in denomination of 50 Pounds. I do not have an example in my collection.
November 15, 1775. Issued in denominations of 2 Shillings 6 Pence, 5 Shillings, 7 Shillings 6 Pence, 10, 15,
20, 30 Shillings, 2 Pounds, 2 Pounds 10 Shillings, and 3 Pounds.