We Are One

1775: Great Britain viewed the American colonies as scattered, with loyalties ultimately to the throne. A culmination of diverse people groups, trades, backgrounds, and tastes, the colonies seemed an easy enemy to snuff out. But the newly formed Continental Congress members fought to overcome their differences and established a standardized currency for the 13 Colonies, relinquishing the dependency on Great Britain. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, a renaissance man in the truest form: scientist, philosopher, politician, spearheaded the effort and the design of the Half A Dollar Bill to state with certainty the unity of these Colonies against the English crown. The colonial form of money called Continentals was not backed up by gold or silver like the British Pound. Although these notes were later devalued, the Half A Dollar stood for something more then currency alone. The words WE ARE ONE in the middle of this bill signify that even in the turbulent and uncertain times that promise