The pound (symbol: £) was the currency of North Carolina until 1793. Initially, sterling coin circulated, supplemented from 1709 by the introduction of colonial currency denominated in pounds, shillings and pence in 1712.^[1] The North Carolina currency was worth less than sterling, with a rating of 1 North Carolina shilling = 9 pence sterling (or 1 North Carolina pound to 15 shillings sterling). The first issue of paper money was known as "Old Tenor" money. In 1748, "New Tenor" paper money was introduced, worth 7+1⁄2 times the Old Tenor notes.^[2]

The State of North Carolina issued continental currency denominated in £sd and Spanish dollars at the York rating of 1 dollar = 8 shillings. The continental currency was replaced by the U.S. dollar at a rate of 1000 continental dollars = 1 U.S. dollar.^{[citation needed]}