December 10, 1690 - PAPER MONEY ISSUED BY MASSACHUSETTS

1690 - PAPER MONEY ISSUED BY MASSACHUSETTS
Faced with an pressing need to fund military action against Canada during King William's War, the Massachusetts colonial government authorized the issuing of £7,000 in public paper currency. This was the first public paper money issued in the history of Western civilization. The paper money possessed no intrinsic value. Its only value was that it was backed by the colony, accepted for tax payments. The notes could be redeemed for hard currency if such currency was available.
http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCurrency/CurrencyText/MA-1690-1750.html