2018-02-16 Fri

Let’s continue our journey of tracing historical events depicted on banknotes. Today we are going to discuss the most celebrated American Declaration of Independence on a two dollar bill. It’s amazing how such events can still be retold through our modern currencies. Isn’t it?

So here’s a brief history of it:
After an almost a century-long protest and fight, America was declared free from Great Britain and its Kings on 4th July 1776 in Philadelphia by the Continental Congress. The thirteen American colonies that were at odds with the British throughout the 18th century regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and formed a new nation—the United States of America!

The Congress officially signed and adopted the “Declaration of Independence”, the founding document of the American political traditions and an inspiration to many other newly independent countries of the 18th and 19th century. The document articulates the fundamental ideas that form the roots of the American nation: Equality, Liberty and Justice! The Declaration also summarized the colonists’ motivations for seeking independence.
To read a detailed blog on it click here.

A two dollar bill first introduced in 1976 depicts this iconic signing and approving of the Declaration. The most celebrated design depicts the Congress President John Hancock signing of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with other notable members of the Congress around. Hancock was the president and only member of the Continental Congress to sign the document on that date.

Banknotes can be more than just money. It’s fascinating that they can hold in their humble papers pasts to powerful! Read other articles on History on Banknotes here.

Stay tuned for more!

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia