Bank.notes

Collection United Kingdom #591

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10 New Pence British Armed Forces Special Voucher

United Kingdom 1946_1989 XF P-M49 AI extracted ✦ AI 92%
Front · IMG_7379.HEIC cropped
Back · IMG_7380.HEIC cropped
Pair check: not yet checked
Identity

Where & when

Country United Kingdom
Currency British Armed Forces Special Voucher
Denomination 10 New Pence
Series name Sixth Series
Series year
Issue year
Era 1946_1989
Legal status demonetized
Predecessor currency Fifth Series British Armed Forces Vouchers
Successor currency Pound sterling (in military establishments)
Subjects & design

What's on the note

Front portrait
Reverse subject
Watermark
Color palette #8b6f47,#9b6b7e,#a0b496
Themes military
Language / script Latin

Front: British Armed Forces Special Voucher, 10 New Pence, Sixth Series. These vouchers were issued by the Command of the Defence Council for use as internal currency within British military establishments and NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) facilities worldwide. The voucher system prevented regular sterling from circulating in overseas bases and allowed military personnel to make purchases in canteens, shops, and recreational facilities. This denomination is marked 'SPECIAL VOUCHER' and 'FOR USE ONLY AS DETAILED ON THE REVERSE' with the text 'A USE ONLY AS DETAILED ON THE REVERSE' printed vertically along both edges.

Back: The reverse features the denomination 'FIVE NEW PENCE' prominently displayed with geometric guilloche patterns and security printing. Fine print at bottom restricts use to 'transactions within official canteens and organizations laid down in orders of the theatre, except as may be expressly authorized in special circumstances' and warns that 'improper use' or 'dishonest exchange' renders 'the offender liable to penalties under service law'.

Production

How it was made

Issuer British Armed Forces (Command of the Defence Council)
Issuer (native)
Printer Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.
Engraver
Material paper
Dimensions (mm) 150x75

Security features: microprint,intaglio,latent_image

Geography

United Kingdom in Europe

United Kingdom in Europe. Other countries on the same continent shown in muted grey.

The story

Background & history

The British Armed Forces Sixth Series vouchers were introduced in 1972 following decimalization of British currency in 1971, replacing the previous Fifth Series denominated in old pence and shillings. These special vouchers (also called BAFVs or 'Naffy money') served as a parallel currency system for British military personnel stationed overseas, particularly in Germany (BAOR - British Army of the Rhine), Cyprus, Hong Kong, and other garrison locations. The system prevented currency speculation, controlled foreign exchange exposure, and maintained discipline in military economies. The Sixth Series circulated from 1972 until 1988, when the voucher system was gradually phased out as electronic payment systems and ATMs became widespread in military facilities. Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., the noted British security printer, produced these notes with sophisticated anti-counterfeiting features. The serial number A/2 216882 indicates this is from an early print run. No printed issue year appears on the note itself; dating is inferred from the series designation and documented circulation period.

Catalogue

Collector references

Pick # M49
Krause ID
Rarity tier scarce
Series range 1972–1988
Provenance

How it came to me

Acquired date
Acquired from
Acquired price
Currency
Condition
Grade XF
Serial number A/2 216882
Serial prefix A/2

Note shows light circulation with minor handling, good centering, strong colors retained

Valuation

What it's worth now

$8–$20 GBP
Type default range $8–$20
Valuation history (1)
datelowhighcurrencysourcenote
2026-05-10 07:31:32 8.0 20.0 GBP ai from claude-sonnet-4-5
Technical

History & extractions

AI extractions (1)
anthropic · claude-sonnet-4-5 2026-05-10 07:31:32
status: ok · step 1 · $0.0411 · 7369↓ + 1263↑ tokens
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