. >> who was owen sullivan? >> owen sullivan was one the most notorious counterfeiters in colonial america. he came to america in the 1940s from ireland. he was an indentured servant and ends up in boston as a silversmith. he begins to counterfeit colonial massachusetts notes and building a huge intercolonial network that spans from rides, new hampshire, massachusetts, all over. >> how easy was it to counterfeit at that time? >> well, the printing quality of the bills is fairly primitive by our standards, but it did require tremendous skills as an engraver. one the things you see, most counterfeiters are former silversmiths because it takes dexterity to engrave a copperplate in reverse. that's what was required. >> how many -- >> was there a national currency or 13 different types of currency official? >> in the colonial era, 13 different types of currency. after the revolution, it becomes confusing. instead of colonial governments, you have private banks all printing their own notes. first hundreds then later t