This Day in Financial History - February 3 . . .

1690 - Until 1690, the North American colonies had dealt primarily in coinage. Silver and gold were rather rare, so colonists generally used unofficial coins, or “decrepit coppers.” Boston-based silversmiths John Hull and Robert Sanderson did operate their own mint between 1652 and 1682, issuing silver shillings and three and sixpence pieces, but save for a few ill-fated experiments, paper money was hardly tried or used. However, on February 3, 1690, Massachusetts took what would later prove to be a crucial step in the establishment of a stable American economy and authorized the first official paper currency to be ever used in the Western Hemisphere. Source: www.history.com

1964 - A direct feed to the stock ticker at the New York Stock Exchange is extended overseas for the first time, as Switzerland gets a real-time link to follow share prices in New York. Source: www.jasonzweig.com