By Mike Byers…
This unique and historic $7 Continental Currency Note, issued on February 17, 1776, is being offered for sale for the first time. It comes with a handwritten envelope and letter documenting its pedigree back to the American Revolution, a history that remained unknown to the numismatic community until now.
The note and accompanying documents were recently authenticated and certified by PCGS. This exceptional set tells a story spanning over 250 years within the extended Taft Family—a genealogy tree dating back to 1640, which includes President William Howard Taft.
A Direct Link to the Revolution
The $7 Continental Currency notes were printed by the Continental Congress to finance the war against Great Britain, as they lacked the power to levy taxes. Issued as part of the second series of currency, these notes were a vital, albeit ultimately unstable, resource for the war effort.
This specific note was given to Sergeant Frederick Taft as payment for his service in a local militia unit during the Revolutionary War. It remained in the Taft family from 1776 until 2025. The handwritten letter and envelope, dated 1843, provide an invaluable document trail, confirming the note’s origin and continuous pedigree.
The Distinguished Taft Family History
The fascinating history of this set follows the esteemed Taft family. The first American ancestor, Robert Taft Sr., began a homestead in Mendon, Massachusetts, circa 1680. Over the generations, the family was prominently represented as soldiers in the Revolutionary War, mostly in the New England states.
Frederick Taft was the son of Samuel Taft (1735-1816), a Continental Army veteran and proprietor of a tavern in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, which President George Washington visited in 1789 on his inaugural tour.
The note’s history was documented in 1843 by Frederick Taft’s grandson, Royal Sibley Warren (1822-1896), a physician, who received it from his grandfather.
The family continued to make history, producing notable figures such as a U.S. Senator and Secretary of Agriculture, culminating with William Howard Taft, the 27th President and tenth Chief Justice of the United States, who was a distant cousin of both Frederick Taft and R.S. Warren.
A Museum-Quality Artifact
It is truly remarkable that this $7 Continental Currency Note survived in the extended Taft family for over 250 years.
This unique numismatic discovery represents a tangible connection to the birth of the United States and the family that helped shape it. It belongs in a museum, a high-end collection of U.S. Currency, a collection of American Revolution antiques, or among the rarest artifacts of our nation’s history.
The post An Incredible Revolutionary War Discovery: The $7 Continental Currency Note with Taft Family Provenance appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.
