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10 Shillings - George V Treasury issue, 1st series
| Issuer | HM Treasury |
|---|---|
| Year | 1914 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Frederick Atterbury |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Printed in red on white paper, the reverse repeats the same design as the obverse, with the circular royal portrait vignette to the left, the bold 'Ten Shillings' central band, the '10/-' numeral to the upper right, the legal tender inscription above, and the facsimile signature of John Bradbury with serial number below. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | John Bradbury |
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| Comments |
Britain had no tradition of low-denomination paper currency before August 1914. The Treasury notes were rushed into existence within days of the declaration of war specifically to prevent a run on gold — the Currency and Bank Notes Act passed on 5 August, and Bradbury's signature was on notes in public hands before the month was out. The speed of production showed: early printings were poorly perforated, inconsistently cut, and the paper quality varied noticeably across sheets.
These became known colloquially as "Bradburys," a name that stuck through the entire Treasury note period. Atterbury's engraving work on the cypher and portrait was competent but produced under pressure, and the first series was superseded relatively quickly as the design was refined for more stable wartime production runs.