Photo of an off-white piece of paper currency with a wavy top edge and text that indicates the paper is worth five shillings along with several signatures in the bottom right corner.
Photograph by Robert Kato

Earliest-issued New York City money
New York: William Bradford, ca. 1708
Rare Book Division

Earliest-issued New York City money

As the official printer of the Province of New York, William Bradford regularly published government documents such as official charters and legislative decrees. In 1709 he was tasked with printing the colony’s first paper money—the five- and ten-shilling indented bills seen here.



The term “indented bill” derives from the stub cut from each note, which left an irregular, wavy edge. Provided it fit the corresponding stub kept on file by the government, such bills could be redeemed by the holder for coin in the amount of the stated denomination. New York was only the third colony to issue paper currency, following Massachusetts in 1690 and South Carolina in 1703.

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