Currency of Independence: Financing the American Revolution

The Museum of the American G. I. is proud to present Currency of Independence, a new exhibition honoring America’s 250th anniversary. Step into the economic struggles and bold experiments that helped fuel the American Revolution. Between the 1750s and 1780s, colonial governments, the Continental Congress, and individual states printed paper money to fund the fight for independence—a risky decision that tied everyday life directly to the success or failure of the Revolution. On display are 28 original Revolutionary-era notes that once paid soldiers, purchased supplies, and circulated through homes, farms, and businesses during one of the most uncertain periods in American history. These fragile bills tell a larger story about trust, sacrifice, and national identity. Their value often fluctuated or collapsed, but their meaning endured. Each note reflects the hopes and hardships of ordinary Americans—soldiers, farmers, shopkeepers, and the enslaved—who lived through a revolution built as much on belief as on battlefield victories. Currency of Independence explores how the founding of the United States unfolded not only in famous battles and political debates, but also through the everyday transactions that made independence possible. We invite you to visit the museum and experience this remarkable glimpse into the financial history of the American Revolution.