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Redemption theories and the value of American colonial paper money

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  • Michener, Ron

Abstract

Before the Revolution American colonies issued paper money known as ‘bills of credit’. The bills issued in the Middle colonies held their value surprisingly well despite large wartime fluctuations in the quantity issued, but those issued in New England depreciated as the quantity in circulation increased. The bills' stable purchasing power in the Middle colonies has often been attributed to the redemption provisions enacted when the bills were issued. Similar provisions in New England supposedly failed because New England failed to enforce them. This article explores the comparative enforcement of redemption provisions in the two regions, and in New York in particular, and concludes that differential enforcement does not explain the disparity between the New England experience and that in the Middle colonies.

Suggested Citation

  • Michener, Ron, 2015. "Redemption theories and the value of American colonial paper money," Financial History Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(3), pages 315-335, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:fihrev:v:22:y:2015:i:03:p:315-335_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Bryan P Cutsinger & Vincent Geloso & Mathieu Bédard, 2022. "The wild card: colonial paper money in French North America, 1685 to 1719 [Economic Structure and Agricultural Productivity in Europe, 1300–1800]," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 26(2), pages 185-207.
    2. Farley Grubb, 2018. "Colonial Maryland's Post-1764 Paper Money: A Reply to Ron Michener," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 15(2), pages 168–178-1, May.
    3. Cutsinger, Bryan P. & Rouanet, Louis & Ingber, Joshua S., 2023. "Assignats or death: The politics and dynamics of hyperinflation in revolutionary France," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    4. Ronald W. Michener, 2019. "Re-examination of the Empirical Evidence Concerning Colonial New Jersey's Paper Money, 1709–1775: A Comment on Farley Grubb," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 16(2), pages 180–217-1, September.

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