Catalog
8 Annas Bhopal; PoW Camps
| Issuer | Bhopal Prisoners of War Camp |
|---|---|
| Year | 1941-1945 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Yes |
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| Obverse description | Brown letterpress print on cream paper with an elaborate guilloche underprint in yellow-gold at centre, enclosed within a scalloped cartouche. The denomination "EIGHT ANNAS" is printed in large bold brown letters across the centre of the guilloche, with "BHOPAL" in a black overprint below and "CAMP" arching beneath in brown. The legend "PRISONERS OF WAR" arches across the upper portion of the central vignette, while the denomination numerals "As. 8" appear in octagonal devices at both left and right margins, all framed by a dense brown guilloche border. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | PRISONERS OF WAR EIGHT ANNAS As.8 BHOPAL CAMP |
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| Comments |
Bhopal State operated one of the princely India POW camp currencies during the Second World War, issuing scrip in annas denominations for use among Axis prisoners held under Indian jurisdiction. These internal camp currencies were administrative tools — they allowed prisoners limited purchasing access within canteen systems while preventing any accumulation of rupee currency that could fund escape attempts.
Campbell 5102 is among the scarcer anna-denomination survivors. Camp scrip from princely state facilities was routinely destroyed at the close of hostilities rather than redeemed, which accounts for the low attrition rate in collections today.