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2 Shillings
| Issuer | Colonel R.S.S. Baden-Powell (Commanding the Rhodesian Forces), Mafeking Siege |
|---|---|
| Year | 1900 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 2 Shillings |
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| Obverse description | Plain off-white paper voucher with typeset letterpress text throughout. A small Royal Arms vignette is centred at the top, flanked by the date 'JANUARY, 1900' to the left and a serial number to the upper right. The body of the note carries the issuing authority inscription, the value '2s.' printed in large bold red numerals, and a redemption clause specifying exchange at the Mafeking Branch of the Standard Bank upon resumption of Civil Law. A manuscript signature of the Chief Paymaster appears in the lower centre, with the printer's imprint at the foot. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | JANUARY, 1900 No. A 6459 Issued by the Authority of Colonel R. S. S. Baden-Powell, (Commanding the Rhodesian Forces) This voucher is Good for the sum of 2s. And will be exchanged for coin at the MAFEKING BRANCH of the STANDARD BANK, on the resumption of Civil Law. T. & Son Printers Mafeking. |
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| Comments |
Among the most famous emergency issues in British colonial numismatic history, the Mafeking siege notes were produced during the 217-day Boer encirclement of the town that ran from October 1899 to May 1900. Baden-Powell authorized the notes to maintain a functioning local economy after conventional currency ran critically short inside the perimeter. T. & Son — almost certainly Townshend & Son, the local printer — worked with whatever materials were available, which is why the paper quality varies considerably across surviving examples.
Forgeries were attempted during the siege itself, and Greener's signature as Chief Paymaster was the primary authentication device. The notes were technically redeemable after relief, though many were retained as souvenirs rather than presented for payment — which ironically makes genuinely circulated examples harder to find than uncirculated ones.