Common Sense in early 1776 — Sesquicentennial of American Independence Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin

Today, the Sesquicentennial of American Independence Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin remembers the first publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense 241 years ago.

From the Writings of Thomas Paine, collected and edited by Moncure Daniel Conway, published 1906:

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This pamphlet, whose effect has never been paralleled in literary history, was published January 10, 1776, with the following title:

COMMON SENSE : Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the following Interesting Subjects, viz.:

I. Of the Origin and Design of Government in General ; with Concise Remarks on the English Constitution.

II. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession.

III. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs.

IV. Of the Present Ability of America ; with some Miscellaneous Reflections.

Man knows no master save creating Heaven, Or those whom choice and common good ordain. Thomson.

Philadelphia: Printed, and Sold, by R. Bell, in Third Street. MDCCLXXVI.

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COMMON SENSE.

INTRODUCTION.

Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general Favor; a long Habit of not thinking a Thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of Custom.

But the Tumult soon subsides. Time makes more Converts than Reason.

As a long and violent abuse of power is generally the means of calling the right of it in question, (and in matters too which might never have been thought of, had not the sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry,) and as the King of England hath undertaken in his own right, to support the Parliament in what he calls Theirs, and as the good People of this Country are grievously oppressed by the Combination, they have an undoubted privilege to enquire into the Pretensions of both, and equally to reject the Usurpation of either.

In the following Sheets, the Author hath studiously avoided everything which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof.

The wise and the worthy need not the triumph of a Pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious or unfriendly will cease of themselves, unless too much pains is bestowed upon their conversions.

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.

Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected, and in the event of which their affections are interested.

The laying a country desolate with fire and sword, declaring war against the natural rights of all mankind, and extirpating the defenders thereof from the face of the earth, is the concern of every man to whom nature hath given the power of feeling; of which class, regardless of party censure, is

THE AUTHOR.

Postscript to Preface in the third edition.

P. S. The Publication of this new Edition hath been delayed, with a view of taking notice (had it been necessary) of any attempt to refute the Doctrine of Independence:

As no answer hath yet appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the time needful for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably past.

Who the Author of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the Public, as the Object for Attention is the Doctrine itself, not the Man.

Yet it may not be unnecessary to say, That he is unconnected with any party, and under no sort of Influence, public or private, but the influence of reason and principle.

PHILADELPHIA, February 14, 1776.

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The Sesquicentennial of American Independence Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin shows with an image of the front cover of Common Sense, 1776.

Sesquicentennial of American Independence Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin