10 Shillings - George V

Cyprus was under British administration from 1878, but the island's paper money remained an awkward arrangement well into the twentieth century. This note belongs to a series issued directly by the colonial government rather than through a bank — a consequence of Cyprus having no chartered bank of issue at the time capable of handling the role.

The 1914–1918 war disrupted normal coin supply across the eastern Mediterranean, and small-denomination government paper filled the gap left by hoarded or melted silver. The 1917 start date for this series reflects that wartime pressure directly.

Pick 8 is scarce in any grade, with surviving examples rarely seen outside specialist collections and major auction appearances.