5 Shillings - George V

Jamaica's Government direct-issue notes of this period came about because the colonial banking system — dominated by the Canadian-chartered banks — was poorly equipped to handle the liquidity demands of the First World War. The 1918 series was authorized under emergency currency legislation, with Waterlow & Sons handling production in London as they did for a substantial portion of British colonial paper at the time.

The 5 Shilling denomination in this series is the scarcest of the group. Surviving examples frequently show handling damage consistent with heavy tropical circulation — the Caribbean humidity was unkind to paper currency, and redemption rates were high once the emergency issues were retired.