Catalog
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| Issuer | British Armed Forces |
|---|---|
| Year | 1946 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | De La Rue (Thomas de la Rue; Thomas De La Rue & Co.; TDLR), London, United Kingdom (1821-date) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Purple voucher printed entirely in letterpress, with guilloche border and corner ornaments repeating the "3d" denomination. A central rectangular panel carries the usage restriction text. The heading "THREE PENCE" appears at top within a scrollwork cartouche. |
| Reverse lettering | Three Pence This note is valid only for transactions within official canteens and organisations laid down in the G.R.Os of the theatre. Except as may be expressly provided in the G.R.Os it must in no circumstances be offered to any person who is not entitled to use British service canteens. Improper use of this note is a disciplinary offence and may render the offender liable to penalties. |
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| Comments |
British Armed Forces Special Vouchers — universally called BAFSVs — were introduced in 1946 specifically to prevent sterling from leaking into local economies in occupied territories and British garrison zones. Troops were paid in vouchers redeemable only at NAAFI canteens and authorised military establishments, making black-market currency conversion considerably harder. The scheme also gave authorities the ability to declare existing vouchers void and reissue a new series at short notice, effectively neutralising any stockpiles that had already escaped into civilian hands.
De La Rue printed the 1st series under tight security. The small denomination saw heavy canteen use and surviving examples in clean condition are genuinely uncommon.