A Portuguese coin of the value of four dollars, once current along the Atlantic coast. See also JOHANNES.

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1772.  Let Mr. Ripley have a guinea, half a joe, and nine coppers.—Chase, ‘Hist. of Dartmouth Coll.,’ i. 262 n. (N.E.D.)

2

1775.  Col. Prescot engaged a number of people from the suburbs, at Half a Joe per man, to join a party of regulars from the garrison, and to go out against [Col. Ethan Allen].—Newport Mercury, Oct. 30.

3

1777.  An aversion to dealing in paper money of any denomination; guineas, half joes, and milled dollars in as high estimation as in Philadelphia.—J. Adams, ‘Letter to Elbridge Gerry: Works,’ ix. 470. (N.E.D.)

4

1777.  

        No! he n’ere fears or friends or foes, Sir,
E’en should they squeeze him by the nose, Sir,
For he can still clip on half J—s, Sir.
Maryland Journal, Dec. 9.    

5

1778.  “A half Jo.” is reckoned at £3.—Id., Aug. 25.

6

1783.  Stolen,… Fourteen Guineas and a Half, and Four Half-Johannes, wrapped up in paper.—Id., April 1.

7

1784.  One Half-Joe is offered for apprehending each.—Runaway advt., id., Sept. 7.

8

1784.  He offered to assign over his indentures for two half joes.—Id., Oct. 5.

9

1787.  If taken ten miles or under, I will give a Half Joe; if 20, Two Half Joes; if 30, Three Half Joes; if 40, Four Half Joes; and if 50 or upward, Five Half Joes.—Runaway advt., id., Nov. 9.

10

1805.  A bag of half-joes, worth 2440 dollars.—Mass. Spy, Nov. 20.

11

1820.  

        Here’s to those that has old clothes,
  And never a wife to mend ’em;
A plague on those that has halfjoes,
  And hasn’t a heart to spend ’em!
James Hall, ‘Letters from the West,’ p. 92 (Lond.).    

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