1345. FOUNDING OF THE MARINE CORPS A Colonial forty dollar banknote, issued by Congress in Philadelphia, Jan. 14, 1779, printed by Hall & Sellers, signed on the face by ROBERT MULLAN who assisted in the first recruitment of American Marines. On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the formation of two battalions of Marines. Tradition says that the earliest recruiting of Marines took place at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, owned by Mullan, who later became a Continental Marine officer himself. Mullan's red ink signature is light, especially the last two letters, but largely legible. $150-200