SYMBOLS

The Continental

Move your cursor over the bill or tap it on your screen to see the reverse side.
The Continental front
The Continental back
  • This note, known as the Continental, was issued to help finance the American Revolution and was designed by Benjamin Franklin, who liked to pair Latin phrases with symbols. It was printed by Hall & Sellers in Philadelphia in 1776, and the paper contains thin blue threads and mica flakes to deter counterfeiting.
  • The symbol featured on the front, or obverse, of the Continental is a sun shining on a sundial with the Latin word "Fugio" and the English words "Mind Your Business." When combined, they create the motto "Time flies, so mind your business."
  • The denomination of this note is depicted by the two ornaments in the top corners of the sundial frame representing one-sixth of a dollar each, to indicate the note's value of one-third of a dollar.
  • The 13 linked rings featured on the back, or reverse, represent the 13 colonies and the mottos We are One and American Congress to represent their new union.