"Modest Enquiry" and Major Innovation: Franklin’s Early American Currency

Abstract

American colonial paper money is put in the context of its historical economic situation. The author examines paper currency with regard to paper, printing and design and scrutinizes the function of text elements with regard to security and authenticity. Benjamin Franklin’s innovations for security paper and adapting nature printing for use in currency production are also discussed. The imagery of paper currency is examined with regard to ideological motives in the creation of a new and independent nation.