Catalog
5 Pounds - George VI Orange
| Issuer | Bermuda Government |
|---|---|
| Year | 1941 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BERMUDA GOVERNMENT BERMUDA NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT. FIVE POUNDS ISSUED UNDER AUTHORITY OF BERMUDA LEGISLATURE HAMILTON, BERMUDA, 1st AUGUST, 1941. ASSISTANT COLONIAL TREASURER COLONIAL TREASURER ₤5 BRADBURY, WILKINSON & Co. Ltd. NEW MALDEN, SURREY, ENGLAND |
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Comments |
Bermuda's wartime currency situation was anything but routine. With the Atlantic shipping lanes under U-boat threat, the logistics of getting printed notes from England to the islands were a genuine operational concern, and the 1941 series was produced under those conditions. Bradbury, Wilkinson's New Malden facility was printing colonial currency throughout the war years, often under priority constraints driven by the Colonial Office in London.
The orange coloration of this denomination was a deliberate distinguishing choice across the series — not decorative. At 106 × 52 mm, this is an unusually small format for a five-pound note, reflecting wartime economy in materials rather than any design preference.