2 shillings 1942

Common. eBay historical pricing data shows consistent sales in the $5-$30 range across multiple grades (VG to F), with 2016 catalogue valuations of $3.50 (VG) to $100 (UNC). The note was regularly issued by the Government of Malta in 1942 and appears with reasonable frequency in the collector market. The AU condition grade observed here places it above average but not exceptionally scarce; the catalog value for UNC ($100) suggests good demand for higher grades, but the abundance of lower-grade examples sold confirms this as a standard issue with substantial print runs.

This 1942 Government of Malta issue represents the colonial currency period under British dominion, with King George VI's portrait serving as a symbol of Malta's status within the Commonwealth during World War II. The formal military regalia depicted emphasizes the British imperial authority of the period, while the note's explicit legal tender declaration reflects Malta's position as a British Crown Colony. This note predates Malta's independence (1964) and represents an important phase in the island's monetary history before the transition to decimal currency.

The obverse presents an exceptionally ornate design characteristic of pre-1950s Commonwealth banknotes. King George VI is depicted in profile facing left, wearing formal military dress uniform with regalia, positioned within an ornate oval frame on the right side of the note. The left and center areas feature an elaborate decorative cloud-like cartouche containing the legal tender declaration, flanked by intricate geometric grid patterns forming ornamental borders. Corner flourishes and repeating elements enhance the security appearance. The color scheme employs brown/rust, green, and blue accents on a cream background. The reverse is uniface (printed on obverse only), showing only faint watermark impressions with 'MALTA' repeating text. No printed design elements appear on the back.

FRONT SIDE: '2/' (denomination markers appearing twice), 'THE GOVERNMENT OF MALTA' (issuing authority), 'HEREBY DECLARES THIS NOTE' (legal declaration), 'TWO SHILLINGS' (denomination in words), 'TO BE LEGAL TENDER FOR PAYMENTS NOT EXCEEDING £2.' (legal tender limitation), 'A/2 296765' (serial number, appearing twice), 'MALTA' (repeating watermark text). BACK SIDE: 'MALTA' (faint watermark impression only; reverse appears blank/unprinted).

Intaglio line engraving (evidenced by the fine detail work, intricate geometric patterns, and complex portrait rendering visible in the images). Printer: BWC (Bradbury Wilkinson & Company), a renowned British security printer, without imprint notation on the note itself. The security features include fine-line engraving throughout the design, a repeating 'MALTA' watermark in the paper, and complex geometric border patterns characteristic of high-security banknote production of the 1940s era.

This note is identified as Pick P-17b (2 Shillings variant), one of four cataloged variants (P-17a, P-17b, P-17c, and P-17s) distinguished by the PMG population report. All known variants share the BWC printer attribution. The serial number observed (A/2 296765) with the 'A/2' prefix is consistent with this issue. Specific distinguishing features between P-17a, P-17b, and P-17c are not definitively documented in available references, though they likely represent sequential printings or minor design variations. The uniface design (printed front only) and lack of printer imprint are standard for this series.