5 pounds 1840

Common. While this is a specialized interest-bearing bond rather than standard banknote currency, eBay market data shows consistent availability across condition grades, with VF examples regularly appearing at $190-$350 USD, indicating steady collector supply. The Pick catalog lists this as P-A1b (Pen Cancelled variant), with a remainder variant (P-A1r) also documented by PMG, suggesting multiple specimens survive. The 2016 catalogue value of $250 for EF and robust secondary market pricing reflect collector interest but not scarcity—this represents an accessible piece of Jersey monetary history rather than a rare emission.

The Jersey States issued this bond in 1840 as an interest-bearing financial instrument under an Act of the States dated July 13, 1810, payable on September 1, 1811 with interest accumulation. The note's heraldic imagery and formal governmental inscriptions ('BY THE STATES OF THE ISLAND OF JERSEY') reflect Jersey's status as a self-governing bailiwick with autonomous financial authority. The inscription 'W. ADAMS & S.' on the front likely identifies the printer, typical of mid-19th-century British security printing practices for regional authorities.

The obverse features a centered heraldic coat of arms with shield and decorative mantling, flanked by ornamental scrollwork flourishes in the top corners characteristic of Victorian-era formal finance documents. The design employs bold serif lettering and extensive cursive script detailing the bond's terms, interest rate, and governmental authorization. The reverse presents a simplified design with large blue/teal printed text announcing the bond type, allowing clear legibility of the denomination. The entire composition emphasizes official authority and financial legitimacy through heraldic and typographic means. No portraits appear on this note; the heraldic arms serve as the principal iconographic element representing Jersey's governmental authority.

FRONT: 'BY THE STATES OF THE ISLAND OF JERSEY' (governing authority); 'No 2144' (serial number); 'Five Pounds British Sterling' (denomination); 'BEARING INTEREST OF ONE HALF-PENNY PER WEEK' (interest clause); 'Dimien to pay the Bearer Five Pounds British Sterling together with an Interest of Five Shillings & Twopence on the 1st Sept 1811 By Order of an Act of the States of the Island of Jersey the 13th July 1810' (payment terms and authorization); '1st September 1840' (issue/maturity date); 'MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE STATES' (signature line); 'TREASURER OF THE STATES' (signature line); 'W. ADAMS & S.' (printer attribution). BACK: 'JERSEY STATES BOND for FIVE POUNDS BRITISH.' (denomination statement); '6/6' (likely plate or sheet marking).

Engraved intaglio printing on paper with visible watermark security feature. The front side demonstrates intricate line engraving for the heraldic coat of arms and decorative elements, while the reverse employs color printing (blue/teal) for the main text—consistent with early-to-mid 19th-century British security printing standards. The printer W. ADAMS & S. appears to have been a specialized security printer for regional bonds and financial instruments. Hand-written signatures and notations in brown ink were applied post-printing by authorized signatories.

This specimen is identified as Pick P-A1b (Pen Cancelled variety), distinguishing it from the P-A1r Remainder variant catalogued for the same base note. The visible handwritten signatures and brown ink notations constitute the 'pen cancellation' marking the note as issued/circulated rather than remaining unissued stock. Serial number 2144 is specific to this individual note. The maturity date of September 1, 1840 and the issue authority reference (Act of July 13, 1810) are consistent across this issue type.