During the Second World War the Island of Jersey was occupied by the Germans. Islanders continued to use British currency but it gradually ran out as German soldiers kept the silver coins as souvenirs and the paper currency wore out. In late 1941 Edmund Blampied was asked to design bank notes for the Island in denominations of 6 pence (6d), 1 shilling (1/-), 2 shillings (2/-), 10 shillings (10/-) and 1 pound (£1). A second 2/- note, not designed by Blampied, was also issued. The printing blocks for the notes were made by the Jersey Evening Post and they were printed by Bigwoods Ltd. of Jersey.
All the bank notes that I have seen which are signed by Blampied give the same date, April 20 1942, the date on which the currency was first issued. This date was also Adolf Hitler's birthday, somthing that Blampied was aware of, according to Syrvet (1986). Examples of these signed noted are shown below.
The difficulties experienced by banks in the Channel Islands during the war are described in:
John Wadsworth (1948). In Duty Bound. A story of banking in the Channel Islands during the Occupation: 1940 - 1945. London: Midland Bank Limited.
The cover of this booklet was designed by Edmund Blampied.
The images below are all in proportion to each other in size.
(Last updated on 7/2/2023)
Six pence currency note
Date: 20th April 1942
Dimensions: 69 x 108 mm
Signed: no
Publisher: States of Jersey
Printer: Messrs Bigwoods Ltd, Jersey
Watermark: thick chain
Number issued: 840,000
Catalogue numbers: BNYB JE1, McCammon JN244. Pick 1a
Notes: It is said that when this was folded, it showed a 'V' for Victory sign, a symbol of resistance to occupation.
The design for the note can be seen here.
Front of banknote (click to enlarge)
Back of banknote (click to enlarge)
One shilling currency note
Date: 20th April 1942
Dimensions: 69 x 108 mm
Signed: Blampied, verso
Publisher: States of Jersey
Printer: Messrs Bigwoods Ltd, Jersey
Watermark: thick chain
Number issued: 200,000
Catalogue numbers: BNYB JE2, McCammon JN245, Pick 2a
Notes: The design for the note can be seen here.
Front of banknote (click to enlarge)
Back of banknote (click to enlarge)
Two shillings currency note
Date: 20th April 1942
Dimensions: 83 x 128 mm
Signed: Blampied, verso lower left
Publisher: States of Jersey
Printer: Messrs Bigwoods Ltd, Jersey
Watermark: thick chain
Number issued: 150,000
Catalogue numbers: BNYB JE4, McCammon JN246A, Pick 3a
Notes: This replaced a 2/- note issued in June 1941. The design for the note can be seen here.
Front of banknote (click to enlarge)
Back of banknote (click to enlarge)
Ten shillings currency note
Date: 20th April 1942
Dimensions: 83 x 128 mm
Signed: Blampied 1941, verso lower right
Publisher: States of Jersey
Printer: Messrs Bigwoods Ltd, Jersey
Watermark: thick chain
Number issued: 26,000
Catalogue numbers: BNYB JE5, McCammon JN247, Pick 5a
Notes: The design for the note can be seen here.
I wonder if the woman was looking up to enemy aeroplanes in the sky? Blampied was on Noirmont Point on 28th June 1940 when German planes fired on the Jersey lifeboat in St Aubin's Bay and killed a lifeboatman.
Front of banknote (click to enlarge)
Back of banknote (click to enlarge)
One pound currency note
Date: 20th April 1942
Dimensions: 83 x 128 mm
Signed: Blampied 1941, verso
Publisher: States of Jersey
Printer: Messrs Bigwoods Ltd, Jersey
Watermark: thick chain
Number issued: 11,000
Catalogue numbers: BNYB JE6, McCammon JN248, Pick 6a
Notes: The design for the note can be seen here.
A £1 note was issued in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation which reproduced on the back the Occupation £1 note.
Front of banknote (click to enlarge)
Back of banknote (click to enlarge)