“declared, nominated, and appointed agent” — Franklin Silver Half Dollar Coin

Today, the Franklin Silver Half Dollar Coin remembers when the Assembly of Georgia on April 11, 1768, chose Benjamin Franklin to act as their agent in Great Britain for affairs of the province.

From The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Volume VII, collected by Jared Sparks, published in 1840:

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Dr. Franklin was appointed Agent for Georgia by an ordinance of the Assembly, dated April 11th, 1768. Noble Wimberly Jones was Speaker of the Assembly. The ordinance states, that

“Benjamin Franklin is hereby declared, nominated, and appointed agent to represent, solicit, and transact the affairs of this province in Great Britain; that he is fully authorized and empowered to follow and pursue all such instructions, as he shall from time to time receive from the General Assembly, or from the committee hereinafter appointed to correspond with him; that there shall be allowed and paid for his agency the sum of one hundred pounds sterling money of Great Britain, over and above his reasonable charges and disbursements on his application to the several offices and boards in negotiating the affairs of the province; and that he shall continue agent for one whole year, to commence on the first day of June next.”

The members of the committee appointed to correspond with him were, James Habersham, Noble Jones, James Edward Powell, Lewis Johnson, Clement Martin, Alexander Wylly, John Mullryne, John Smith, Noble Wimberly Jones, John Milledge, John Simpson, Archibald Bulloch, William Ewen, and Joseph Gibbons, or any seven of them, provided two of the seven were of the Council.

The appointment was annually renewed while he remained in England, and the salary was enlarged to two hundred pounds a year.

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The actual ordinance from The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia Volume XIX, Part I; Statutes, Colonial and Revolutionary, 1768 to 1773; compiled and published under authority of the Legislature by Allen D. Candler, published in 1911:

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An Ordinance

Appointing Benjamin Franklin Esquire Agent to Solicit the affairs of this Province in Great Britain

Whereas there are many important affairs necessary to be represented solicited and transacted in Great Britain which cannot be effectually done without having an agent there

And Whereas the General Assembly of this Province have thought Benjamin Franklin Esquire a proper person to be appointed for the purposes aforesaid

Be It Therefore Ordained and it is hereby Ordained by his Excellency Jas. Wright Esquire Captain General and Governor in Chief of his Majesties Province of Georgia by and with the Advice and Consent of the Honorable Council and Commons House of Assembly of the said Province in General Assembly met and by the Authority of the same, That the said Benjamin Franklin be, and he is hereby declared Nominated and Appointed Agent to represent, Solicit and transact the affairs of this Province in Great Britain —

And Be It Further Ordained that the said Benjamin Franklin, shall be and he is hereby fully Authorized and empowered to follow and pursue all such Instructions, as he shall from time to time receive from the General Assembly of this Province or from the Committee herein after Appointed to Correspond with him.

And Be It Further Ordained that the Honorable James Habersham, Noble Jones, James Edward Powell, Lewis Johnson, and Clement Martin Esquires, The Honorable Alexander Wylly Esquire, John Mulryne, John Smith, Noble Wimberly Jones, John Milledge, John Simpson, Archibald Bulloch, William Ewen, and Joseph Gibbons Esquires, until others shall be appointed or any Seven of them. Two of which to be of the Council.

Provided nevertheless that if after being summoned in consequence of an Order from any of the Committee by the Clerk or other person appointed by them for that purpose to meet the Committee, they shall refuse or Neglect to attend then any seven of the persons before named, shall be and they are hereby nominated and appointed a Committee to correspond with the said Benjamin Franklin and give him such Orders and instructions from time to time as they shall judge to be for the service of this Province

And Be It Further Ordained that there shall be allowed and paid unto the said Benjamin Franklin for his Agency the sum of One Hundred Pounds Sterling Money of Great Britain over and above his reasonable Charges and disbursements on his Application to the several Offices and Boards in Negotiating the affairs of this Province

And Be It Further Ordained that the said Benjamin Franklin shall be and Continue Agent for this Province for One whole year to Commence the First day of June next in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Eight.

By Order of the Commons House of Assembly —

Alex Wylly Speaker

By Order of the upper House of Assembly

N Jones

Council Chamber 11th April 1768

Assented to Ja: Wright.

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The Franklin Silver Half Dollar Coin shows with an image of Benjamin Franklin, circa 1782.

Franklin Silver Half Dollar Coin