The horse was the primary form of transportation during the era of American Independence. The most important horseback ride of this era was Paul Revere’s midnight ride announcing the start of the American Revolutionary War. This Revolutionary War hero had an interesting link to paper money since Revere was also an engraver of currency. In 1690, the first paper money was issued in the American colonies. As coins became scarce, many colonies printed their own notes denominated in shillings, pounds, and Spanish milled dollars. The Continental Congress also issued currency called Continentals to finance the War.