2020-03-02 Mon

Half Crown or Two shillings six Pence of King George V is treasury notes that were issued during World War I by the England Bank in the place of silver and gold. It all started with the Great inflation that was penetrating the economic structure of England in early 1912. Hence, the people started collecting gold coin which was issued for daily transaction lead to the shortage of coin on daily commerce. So a series of treasury notes were issued to solve this problem. These Treasury notes were popularly known as Bradbury’s banknotes.

Most of the Treasury note was uniface. The obverse of this note depicts the portrait of George V with crown facing left of the window in the center above the vignette in English it reads "UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND" with Serial number, prefix and below it denomination in numerical on both the sides of the vignette. Denomination in words is printed below the vignette and at the lower corner it reads currency note and besides that, it reads “Issued by the Lords Commissioners of His majesty's Treasury under the Authority of Act of Parliament" at the end signature of secretary to the treasury within the border.

These currency notes were used widely by the general public until 1928, after which Bank of England started issuing £1 and 10s notes.

Image Courtesy: Realbanknotes