10 Shillings GBP #538

Front

Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain, depicted seated with trident and shield in an ornate baroque frame. Britannia has been the enduring symbol of British currency since Roman times, representing British naval power, national identity and imperial strength. The elaborate guilloche patterns and denomination '10/-' appear in green on the mauve-tinted design typical of Bank of England emergency wartime issues.

Back

Britannia seated in medallion at left, with the Bank of England promise text 'Promise to pay the Bearer on Demand the sum of Ten Shillings' in ornate script across the center. The note is signed by K. O. Peppiatt as Chief Cashier, issued from London. Serial number R09D 242136 appears at top right and bottom left, with 'R' prefix indicating the replacement note series used by the Bank of England during this period.

History

Bank of England Series B 10 Shilling note, issued during and shortly after World War II (1940–1948). Kenneth Oswald Peppiatt served as Chief Cashier of the Bank of England from 1934 to 1949, signing notes throughout the war period. The 'R' prefix in the serial number (R09D) indicates this is a replacement note, issued to replace defective notes in the printing process—a documented Bank of England practice where 'R' designated replacement notes. These emergency wartime issues featured simplified designs compared to pre-war notes, with mauve/purple color schemes. The 10 Shilling denomination was withdrawn on November 22, 1970, during decimalization, when it was replaced by the 50 New Pence coin. Pick number P-366 corresponds to Peppiatt 10 Shilling notes with this design and signature combination from the 1940s wartime/post-war period.