10 Shillings

Somalia's Central Bank had been issuing notes since 1975, but the 1978 series marked the first significant redesign under the military government of Siad Barre, whose socialist-nationalist regime had nationalized the banking sector in 1970. Thomas De La Rue handled the entire series, as they had the earlier issues — continuity of printer despite a government ideologically hostile to Western institutions was simply a practical necessity; no regional alternative existed with the capacity.

The 10 Shilling denomination was the workhorse of everyday transactions in a predominantly cash economy with high rural dispersion. Notes from this issue circulate heavily and survivors in decent condition are less common than the low face value might suggest.