Catalog
5 Shillings
| Issuer | Government of Malta |
|---|---|
| Year | 1914 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Brown note with dark brown letterpress print on a central underprint vignette of the island of Malta. The British Royal Coat of Arms appears at the top center above the statutory authorization text, with an embossed dry seal of Malta applied at the center. The serial number is positioned to the left, and denomination numerals appear at all four corners. |
|---|---|
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| Protection description | Embossed dry seal of Malta applied at the center of the note. |
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| Comments |
Malta's 5 Shillings of 1914 belongs to one of the earliest government-issued note series for the island, authorized under the Currency Notes Ordinance. The outbreak of war that same year created an immediate coin shortage across British colonial territories, and small-denomination paper currency was pushed into circulation to fill the gap left by hoarded silver and copper.
Clauson was Colonial Secretary at the time — his signature carries administrative rather than banking authority, which is characteristic of Malta's wartime emergency issues. The embossed seal was the primary security measure, a notably low-tech solution that reflects the urgency of production.