Even before war broke out in September 1939 Treasury officials were concerned that the Germans were going to forge British currency. As it happens, these fears were realised in 1942 when it was found the Nazis were using forced labour in their prison camps to create millions of pounds worth of notes, intending to air-drop them over Britain permanently de-stabilising the economy.
However, the Bank of England took swift action and in March of 1940, just seven months after the outbreak of war, a dramatically different £1 note was released into circulation, rendering useless any old-style green coloured notes that may have been forged.
These new emergency issue notes had a distinctive blue and pink colour scheme.
They were also the first British notes to feature a security thread running through the paper. So successful was this security measure that it became a permanent feature of British bank notes, and is still found in our paper £20 and £50 notes of today.
Why is a certified coin a better investment?
PCGS & NGC are the main two impartial Numismatic Grading Services in the world and is a guarantee that the coin is genuine and has been graded accurately and professionally.
The sonically sealed solid plastic slab is individually numbered so that the details of the coin(s) can be verified on a central database, and is also tamperproof.
In addition, the coin is protected from handling and keeps the coin(s) condition and finish long term if looked after which can be detrimental to the value once sold.
Outside the UK? Not a problem I use eBay global shipping, look at the costs available from your end. All items ship from the UK.