Description:

Revolutionary War Signed Sight Draft Signed by Appleton & Hillegas

A Revolutionary War-era sight draft dated February 26, 1782. Countersigned by Nathaniel Appleton (1731-1798), Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office in the State of Massachusetts, as "Nathl Appleton / Massachusetts" at lower left and by Michael Hillegas (1729-1804), 1st U.S. Treasurer, as "Ml Hillegas" at lower right. The sight draft, numbered 936, is partly handwritten and partly printed in black and green ink, and promised to pay Edmund Howes "One Hundred and Twenty Dollars, in Six Hundred Livres Tournois, for Interest due on Money borrowed by the United States" after thirty days. Unevenly trimmed along the top and left edges. Minor foxing and isolated stains, and two small areas of professional repair at the corners. Else very good with bold signatures. 8.25" x 3.75."

During and following the Revolutionary War, Americans supported their crippling foreign and domestic debts by organizing a precarious system of bills of credit and sinking debt. Bills of credit, or sight drafts like this one, were issued to lenders and accrued interest until they could be repaid by the United States government. Loan office commissioners like our signer Nathaniel Appleton evaluated these claims and repaid them.

Nathaniel Appleton, a Harvard graduate and merchant, become involved in colonial politics before the Revolutionary War. He served as Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office in the State of Massachusetts between 1775-1798.

Michael Hillegas served as the 1st co-Treasurer of the United States between July 1775 - August 1776, and as the sole U.S. Treasurer until September 1789. HIllegas was extremely influential in this role, though his contributions are often overshadowed by his successor Alexander Hamilton.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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June 30, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
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University Archives

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