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1 Shilling without Colony of Fiji undertext
| Issuer | Government of Fiji |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Pound (1873-1969) |
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| Obverse description | The Fijian Coat of Arms, supported by two figures, is centrally positioned at the top of the note above the issuer inscription and denomination rendered in bold letterpress. A rectangular border with notched corners frames the entire design, with the denomination '1s.' repeated in each corner. Three manuscript signatures of the Commissioners of Currency appear at the lower centre, below the legal tender clause dated 1st January, 1942. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | GOVERNMENT OF FIJI These Notes are Legal Tender for payment of an amount not exceeding Forty Shillings ONE SHILLING For the Government of Fiji: 1st January, 1942. Commissioners of Currency. |
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| Comments |
In early 1942, with Japanese forces advancing through the Pacific, Fiji's government issued emergency fractional currency to address a severe coin shortage — base metals had been redirected to the war effort. The 1 Shilling notes were produced in two distinct varieties: one carrying the undertext "Colony of Fiji" and this one, without it. The reason for the omission remains undocumented in official records, likely a press correction mid-run rather than a deliberate policy change.
The without-undertext variety is considerably scarcer than its counterpart, and the distinction is easy to overlook at a glance.