50 New Pence British Armed Forces Special Voucher #542

Front

British Armed Forces Special Voucher 50 New Pence note from the Sixth Series. These vouchers were scrip currency issued exclusively for use by British military personnel and authorized civilians in NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) canteens and organizations within military establishments. The ornate design features elaborate guilloche patterns and acanthus leaf scrollwork typical of military scrip security printing, with '10/-' denominations displayed in both corners representing the pre-decimal equivalent (ten shillings).

Back

The reverse displays the denomination '50' prominently in large green numerals at center, with 'FIFTY NEW PENCE' text in medallions at left and right. The note bears restrictive text stating it is valid only for transactions within official canteens and organizations as laid down in General Routine Orders of the theatre, and warns that improper use constitutes a disciplinary offense with potential penalties. This restriction prevented the vouchers from circulating as regular currency and limited their use to military-controlled facilities.

History

British Armed Forces Special Vouchers (BAFSV) were a form of military scrip used by British forces stationed overseas from 1946 to 1988. The Sixth Series was introduced in 1972 following Britain's decimalization of currency in 1971, replacing the previous series denominated in shillings and old pence. These vouchers served multiple purposes: preventing sterling from entering local black markets, protecting service personnel from currency fluctuations, and maintaining economic control in military zones. The system was particularly important in Germany, Cyprus, Hong Kong, and other overseas postings. The denomination '50 New Pence' was equivalent to the pre-decimal ten shillings (10/-), hence the dual notation. De La Rue printed these notes with sophisticated anti-counterfeiting features despite their limited circulation. The BAFSV system was abolished in 1988 as improved banking facilities and credit systems made military scrip obsolete. Pick M49 specifically refers to this Sixth Series 50 New Pence denomination. Dating individual notes precisely is difficult as the series ran for 16 years without date printing, though the design remained consistent throughout.