1 shilling 1943

Common. The eBay price history provided demonstrates consistent sales activity with examples regularly trading between $2-$16 USD depending on condition, with most sales occurring in the $2-$10 range. The 2008 catalog value for VF condition was $12, and observed sales prices are consistent with or slightly below this estimate. Multiple PMG-graded varieties exist for this Pick number, indicating significant population numbers across variants. The note was issued during a period of substantial British military operations, suggesting considerable original production volume. The accessibility of this note at modest price points and regular auction activity confirms its common status even in VF condition.

Issued by the British Military Authority in 1943 during World War II, these notes were used as payment certificates for British military personnel and in occupied territories. The crowned lion shield design reflects the royal authority under which these notes were issued, serving as a symbolic representation of British sovereignty during wartime operations. The 'K' letter identifier visible in the corners likely denotes a specific printing series or security feature employed during the wartime production of these military payment notes.

The obverse features the crowned lion passant guardant (the royal heraldic lion of Britain) holding a shield bearing a cross design, positioned as the dominant central element on the left side of the note. This lion and crown motif symbolizes British royal authority and sovereignty. The denomination 'ONE SHILLING' is prominently displayed in an ornate cartouche at the center. The reverse presents a large, elaborately stylized numeral '1' rendered in dark blue within a symmetrical scrollwork cartouche featuring botanical and floral motifs in green and olive tones. The entire design employs fine line engraving with complex guilloche patterns throughout, creating a sophisticated security-focused aesthetic typical of wartime military payment certificates.

Front side: 'ISSUED BY THE BRITISH MILITARY AUTHORITY' (issuing authority statement), 'ONE SHILLING' (denomination in words), '1/-' (denomination in numerical notation), 'K' (letter identifier/security marking). Back side: '1' (numeral denoting one shilling denomination). All inscriptions are in English.

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) with multi-color offset lithography elements. The note exhibits the characteristic sharp detail and fine line work of intaglio printing, evident in the ornate guilloche patterns, floral scrollwork, and heraldic elements. Multiple ink colors (black, brown, dark blue, green, olive) are employed on both sides, suggesting a combination of engraved intaglio plates for security features with color lithography for background elements. The precise registration and fine cross-hatching visible throughout indicate high-quality security printing typical of wartime British military currency production.

Pick catalog number P-M2 represents the 1943 one shilling issue by the British Military Authority. The visual analysis shows the 'K' letter identifier in the corners, which likely corresponds to a specific printing series or security variant. The PMG population report indicates multiple cataloged variants exist for this base Pick number (P-M20c, P-M20d, P-M22a, P-M23, P-M29), though the specific variety designation is not definitively indicated by the 'K' marking alone. Additional varieties may be differentiated by printer identification, signature variants, or serial number prefixes not visible in the provided images. Collectors should refer to specialized military currency references to identify the precise variety of individual examples.