2 shillings 6 pence 1940

Common. This note regularly appears on the secondary market with eBay historical sales data showing consistent pricing in the $6–$31 range across multiple grades (VG to VF) over a decade of transactions. The 2016 catalogue values place it at $7 (VG), $25 (VF), and $185 (UNC), consistent with accessible collector-level pricing typical of common Commonwealth colonial issues with reasonable print runs. The PMG population report indicates only one catalogued variant for this Pick number, suggesting the note was straightforward in its issuance without significant varieties, further supporting its status as a standard, commonly available issue rather than a scarce or rare variant.

This 1940 issue represents Malta's currency during World War II, a critical period when the island served as a vital British Mediterranean stronghold. The portrait of King George VI, positioned prominently on the right side within a maroon oval frame, underscores Malta's status as a British Crown dependency and the Crown's constitutional authority over the island's monetary system. The denomination in shillings and pence reflects Malta's adherence to the sterling currency system, a relationship that would persist until decimalization in the 1970s, making this note a tangible artifact of the British imperial monetary structure during wartime.

The obverse of this Malta Government note is dominated by a formal right-facing male portrait—identified as King George VI—positioned within an ornate maroon oval on the right side of the note. The central design features a large rectangular cartouche containing the denomination 'TWO SHILLINGS SIX PENCE' flanked by decorative corner ornaments marked with the numeral '26'. The entire design is framed by elaborate maroon and green ornamental borders with fine-line guilloche patterns throughout, while the background incorporates a security pattern consisting of repeated text ('GOVERNMENT' and 'OF MALTA') rendered in fine line engraving. The color palette of maroon/burgundy, forest green, cream/beige, and black creates a formal, authoritative appearance appropriate for government-issued currency. The reverse is blank, which was standard practice for Commonwealth notes of this period.

Front side: 'THE GOVERNMENT OF MALTA / HEREBY DECLARES THIS NOTE / TWO SHILLINGS SIX PENCE / TO BE LEGAL TENDER FOR PAYMENTS NOT EXCEEDING £2' (The Government of Malta hereby declares this note to be legal tender for payments not exceeding two pounds sterling). Serial number: A/3 126165. Denomination indicators: '26' marked in corner ornaments. Background security pattern: Repeated text reading 'GOVERNMENT' and 'OF MALTA'. Back side: Blank/unmarked with only faint watermark impressions visible.

This note was produced using intaglio engraving (line engraving and guilloche patterns), as evidenced by the fine, sharp details visible in the ornamental borders, corner elements, and security background pattern. The printer is identified as BWC (Bradbury Wilkinson and Company), a renowned British security printer, though notably without imprint appearing on the note itself. The uniface design (front only) and the crisp clarity of the decorative elements confirm professional intaglio production, with the repeated text security background demonstrating sophisticated anti-counterfeiting techniques employed by the printer.

Serial number observed: A/3 126165. The 'A/3' prefix indicates the early issue batch from 1940. PMG catalogues only one variant for Pick number P-18, indicating this is a straightforward issue without known major varieties (such as signature variants, overprints, or date changes). The uniface design (no reverse printing) is consistent across all known examples of this denomination from the 1940 Government of Malta issue. No overprints, color variations, or other distinguishing characteristics have been documented for this Pick number, making the serial number the primary identifier for individual notes.