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2 Shillings 6 Pence German Occupation
| Issuer | States of Guernsey |
|---|---|
| Year | 1941-1943 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 2 Shillings and 6 Pence (1/8) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | THE STATES OF GUERNSEY GUERNSEY PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND TWO SHILLINGS AND SIX PENCE VALUE RECEIVED BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATES 2/6 |
| Reverse description | Printed in blue on plain white paper, the reverse carries a central vignette of the Guernsey coat of arms — three lions passant within an oval cartouche — flanked symmetrically by two lobed guilloche rosettes. The armorial device is encircled by the island's Latin seal legend, with the printer's imprint appearing below. |
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| Comments |
The States of Guernsey was one of only two British jurisdictions occupied by German forces during the Second World War, and these emergency notes were issued specifically because the occupying authorities' demands and the severance from mainland Britain had drained the island of coinage. The Guernsey Press — a local newspaper printer with no specialist banknote experience — produced the entire series under occupation conditions, using whatever paper stock was available.
The irregular paper quality across surviving examples reflects wartime supply shortages rather than any printing defect. Production ran across multiple printings between 1941 and 1943, and minor variations in paper weight and ink density are common within the series.