The Story Of Hall And Sellers, Printers Of Continental Currency

Every issue of Continental Currency was printed by the firm of Hall and Sellers in Philadelphia. The printing company had a long history in colonial America up to modern-day America.

Benjamin Franklin, after learning the printing business in Boston working for his brother James, in England, and then in Philadelphia, formed a partnership with his friend Hugh Meredith to set up their own print business in Philadelphia in 1728. In 1730, Franklin bought the newspaper The Pennsylvania Gazette from one of his former bosses and also bought out Meredith to become the sole owner of his company at the age of 24.

Franklin was an astute businessman. By the mid-18^th Century, he was the sole owner or partner of eight of the 15 English-language newspapers published in the colonies. He also owned the first German-language newspaper in the colonies.

In 1744, Franklin hired David Hall as a journeyman printer, promoting him to foreman in 1746. In 1748, Franklin sold his printing business to Hall for £18,000 (equal to more than $4 million today) with payments of £1,000 per year for 18 years. The business name was changed to Franklin and Hall. Franklin retired from printing that year to pursue his other interests. 

Hall made his final payment to Franklin on Feb. 1, 1766, then hired William Sellers as a journeyman printer. In May of that year, Hall made sellers a partner in the company, with the business name becoming Hall and Sellers.

Hall died in 1772 and is buried in Philadelphia next to the grave of Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin’s common-law wife, Deborah. Hall’s sons, William and David Jr., replaced their father in the partnership.

Sellers died in 1804, whereupon ownership of The Philadelphia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser passed on to William Hall, Jr. This Hall added Samuel C. Atkinson as a partner in 1816. When Hall, Jr. died in 1821, Atkinson became the sole owner of this publication, changing its name to Saturday Evening Post. The Post was initially printed in the location operated by Franklin. It was changed to a weekly publication in 1897 until it closed in 1969. Under a new owner, in 1971, the Saturday Evening Post was moved to Indianapolis, where operations resumed, and it is still published today.

Last time I asked— Which of the eight U.S. presidents born in Virginia were depicted on either U.S. coins or currency before the debut of the Presidential Dollar series? The eight U.S. presidents born in Virginia were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson. The first four of these appeared on either circulating or commemorative U.S. coins before the debut of the Presidential Dollar series. The same first four, plus Woodrow Wilson, have been depicted on U.S. currency.

Here is this week’s question. Which U.S. president, whose only appearance on U.S. coins or currency was on his dollar coin in the Presidential Dollar series, has an ancestor and a descendant who have been depicted on U.S. currency? Come back next week for the answer.

Patrick A. Heller was honored as a 2019 FUN Numismatic Ambassador. He is also the recipient of the American Numismatic Association 2018 Glenn Smedley Memorial Service Award, the 2017 Exemplary Service Award, the 2012 Harry Forman National Dealer of the Year Award, and the 2008 Presidential Award. Over the years, he has also been honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild, Professional Numismatists Guild, National Coin & Bullion Association, and the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He is the communications officer of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Michigan, and writes “Liberty’s Outlook,” a quarterly newsletter on rare coins and precious metals subjects. He now volunteers with the National Coin & Bullion Association as its Industry Issues Advisor.  Past newsletter issues can be viewed at www.libertycoinservice.com. Some of his radio commentaries, "Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So,” and “Important News You Need To Know,” can be heard at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and becomes part of the audio archives posted at www.1320wils.com).

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