Charles Cist Continental Currency- York-town, 11th April 1778

 

This example of Charles Cist currency dated 11th April 1778 is to show that this currency note was signed in red ink. Many of the other currency notes  signed by other printers. were signed in black ink. There is a story to unfold here. Also, Benjamin Franklin invented a counterfeit measure by having leaves pressed together. This way each leaf can be judged as genuine and not fake.

Furthermore, my reacher has shown that this Cist note could be the only one left out of the notes that Cist had to redeem during the American Revolution. Cist was treasurer of the Continental Congress for a period of time. 

During the American Revolutionary War, Continental Currencies were issued by the Continental Congress to finance the war effort. These currencies were paper bills, which made them relatively easy to counterfeit. To combat this problem, the Continental Congress implemented several measures to authenticate Continental Currencies:

1. Signatures:

The most common form of authentication was the use of signatures from authorized individuals. Each bill would feature the signatures of one or more delegates of the Continental Congress, making it more difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce.

2. Watermarks:

Some Continental Currencies featured watermarks, which are subtle designs or patterns embedded in the paper that can only be seen when held up to the light. These watermarks were difficult for counterfeiters to replicate accurately.

3. Engravings:

Continental Currencies also used intricate engravings and designs to deter counterfeiting. Engraving required specialized skills and equipment, making it challenging for counterfeiters to produce convincing replicas.

4. Denomination-specific elements:

Each denomination of Continental Currency often had unique elements, such as different illustrations, mottos, or serial numbers, that helped to differentiate them and prevent counterfeiting.

During the American Revolutionary War, Continental Currencies were sometimes signed in different colored inks, including black and red. These color variations were often used to denote different denominations or issues of the currency. For example, black ink might have been used for lower denominations, while red ink was reserved for higher denominations.

In colonial times, inks were typically made from natural pigments derived from plants, animals, and minerals. Black ink was commonly made from carbon black, which is produced by charring organic materials such as wood, bones, or tar. To create red ink, colonial Americans would have used pigments like iron oxide (rust), crushed cochineal insects, or plant-based dyes like brazilwood or madder root. These pigments were ground into a fine powder and mixed with a binder, often gum arabic or egg whites, to create ink.