Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III

Dummer in Oct. 1725, informing him of the authenticity of Woods patent for coining half pence, pence and two pences " for the use of his Majesty's dominions in America," and recommending the patentee, to the favour of the Massachusetts colony. ' But we presume that the scheme was a failure as well in New England as in Ireland, for the author of " the Defence," already quoted, says, " The money w^^s rejected in a manner not so decent as that of Ireland ;" whilst Marsland, the Cornhill hardwareman, had such quantities of it in his cellar that he was ruined by it, and died housekeeper of Gresham College. 2 It is probable, however, that tliough discarded in New England, it may have circulated in some other of the colonies, to a limited amount, as some specimens have been dug up as far south as Virginia, and even as Charleston, S. Carolina. ^

PL^TE III.

NEW- YORK TOKENS.

The tokens on this plate are from a collection made by M' Vattemare for the French government, and are supposed to be specimens of the earliest copper currency in this State. I. Device.. A bust in Roman armour with a fillet of laurel. Legend. Nova Eborac.

Reverse. Tlie genius of Freedom seated, holding a sprig of laurel in her right, and a staff surmounted by a cap of liberty in her left liand ; at her side, a shield on which are depicted the

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1 Felt's Historical Account of Massachusetts Currency: Boston, 1839, p. 80.