[1] The Virginia Assembly, in November, 1769, authorized the treasurer
to purchase copper in Great Britain for the purpose of importing copper
money to the colony (Hening's _Statutes_, viii, 343).
[2] There are many of these Virginia copper half-pennies, dated 1773,
preserved in coin collections. They answer perfectly in appearance to
the above description (see Dickeson, _American Numismatical Manual_, p.
84, and cut on plate viii). Although dated in 1773, it was apparently
not until the following year that they were ready to be exported and
the proclamation enforcing their acceptance issued.
1775, August 23.
[For Suppression of Rebellion in America.]