Special Collections Research Center

1771 One Pound Note from North Carolina
In Perpetual Union

In Perpetual Union

Commemorating the Original 13 States

Duration
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1771 One Pound Note from North Carolina
This one-pound note issued by the colony of North Carolina in 1771 had the 2026 purchasing power of roughly $225 USD, representing a substantial sum for its holder compared to the Continental dollars that circulated alongside it, which initially held only a quarter of the pound’s purchasing power. This note represents the decentralized, and often chaotic, financial systems the Colonies and later United States had to overcome amidst the changing political landscape of 18th-century North America. (Barry S. Martin Collection of Historical Manuscripts and Documents, MS 00440)

On July 4, 1776, delegates from thirteen British colonies declared themselves to be “Free and Independent States.” In November the following year, delegates affirmed their commitment to form a “perpetual union” of those thirteen states as the United States of America by signing the Articles of Confederation.

In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the creation of the original thirteen states, William & Mary Libraries’ Special Collections staff selected, researched, and interpreted one item or collection from our rich and varied holdings to represent each state’s history — spanning from the colonial period to twentieth century. The selected items demonstrate the interconnectedness between states and also with the wider world through diplomacy, commerce, travel, civil rights, and human connections. On the occasion of the United States’ Semiquincentennial, we invite you to explore what archives can further reveal about our nation’s history through this exhibit and through research in our collections.