208) Specimen Pound Banknotes from the States of Jersey: A British Crown Dependency:

208) Specimen Pound Banknotes from the States of Jersey: A British Crown Dependency:

What are Specimen Banknotes?

Whenever a new Series or new design of Banknotes is proposed to be introduced/circulated by a Central Bank, Specimen Banknotes are printed by the Central Banks so as to familiarise potential users with the new series Banknotes.

The Specimen Banknotes are usually printed in limited/small quantities so as to familiarise users with the new Banknotes proposed to be introduced.

 Uses of Specimen Banknotes:

The Specimen Banknotes are, inter alia, used for the following purposes:

·         Internally in the Bank to familiarise staff with the new Series/designs proposed to be introduced,

·        Distributed among Commercial Banks to familiarise Banking staff of Commercial Banks with the new Series/Designs,

·       Distributed among Commercial enterprises and at the POS, to familiarise vendors and customers with the new Series/Designs,

·     Distributed among the public at large so as to afford wide publicity and familiarization,

·     Sometimes, specimen Banknotes are distributed as gifts to important functionaries or to Employees of Central Banks in special presentation albums,

· Sold to collectors, sometimes in Special Commemorative Folders,

·   Distributed by Banknote Printers as examples of their quality and standard of workmanship,

·  Specimen Banknotes are deformed by the Central Banks in some manner, for example overprinting the Specimen Banknotes with the inscription “SPECIMEN” or “SPECIMEN NO VALUE” or “CANCELLED” or similar words, so as to rule out using these Specimen Banknotes in place of actual legal tender. Some other words which are used on Banknotes which each stand for “SAMPLE” or “SPECIMEN” on such Banknotes are: AMOSTRA, CAMIONE, CONTOH, EKSEMPLAAR, RSPECIMEN, GIAY MAY, HAMYHA, MINTA, MODELO, MODEL, MUSTER, MUESTRA, NUMUNEDIR GECMEZ, ORNEKTIR GECMEZ, PARAUGS, PROFTRYK, UZORAK, VZOREC, WZOR et al.

· Sometimes, Specimen banknotes have easily identifiable serial numbers – say, for example – 99999999 or 00000000 or 1234567890 etc. Many specimen Banknotes have an additional “control number” so as the enable the central bank to track as to who received a particular specimen.

·  Specimens are punch cancelled for additional security

·  Issued Specimen Banknotes are sometimes used with Serial numbers which are inked out.
 Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey:

The following are images of three Specimen Banknotes issued by the States of Jersey in the denominations of 1, 5 and 10 Pounds. The Five Pound Banknotes is from the 1989 Series of Banknotes, while the One and Ten Pound Banknotes are from the 2010 Series of Banknotes:

Notice that the word “SPECIMEN” is clearly marked across the face of all three Banknotes. Also, the Serial number in the 1989 Specimen is numbered “AC000000” (here the prefix is “AC” and the numerals “000000” are of the same size).

 In the 2010 Series Specimens, the Serial number is marked “DD 000000” & “CD 000000” (on the one & 10 Pound Banknote respectively). The Prefix is “DD” for the one Pound Specimen Banknote and the six digits of the Serial number “000000” are becoming larger in size than the previous digit as the number progresses from left to right, which is an additional security measure to guard against counterfeiting. Similarly, the prefix is CD for the 10 Pound Banknote and the size of the numerals rises as in the case of the one Pound Banknote.

Through the specimens, users could easily identify that the 2010 Series of Banknotes will have a more recent image of Elizabeth II than the previous issues.

Also, the earlier image of the Queen in the 1989 Series of Banknotes was uncrowned, but the new one will have her wearing a crown. These Specimens helped users to identify the features of the 2010 Banknote Series of Banknotes and not to consider them as counterfeit, once they were introduced for circulation.

The Backs of all the above three Banknotes are also marked “SPECIMEN” across the face so as to distinguish them from genuine Banknotes, at the same time familiarising the users with the designs contained on the Back of the Banknotes.

The Front of the 5 Pound Specimen Banknote of the 1989 Series

The Back of the 5 Pound Specimen Banknote of the 1989 Series

The Front of the 1 Pound Specimen Banknote of the 2010 Series

The Back of the 1 Pound Specimen Banknote of the 2010 Series

The Front of the 10 Pound Specimen Banknote of the 2010 Series

The Back of the 10 Pound Specimen Banknote of the 2010 Series

Some variations of Specimen Banknotes can be:

Essay Banknotes: These are often issued without Serial numbers and show the proposed design of a banknote.

Proof Banknotes: These are printed as test samples to find out whether large-scale printing as a currency series is feasible. These Banknote prints may also be printed as uniface Proof Banknote specimens i.e. having the proposed Front side print/design or the Back side proposed print/design or even portions of the design.

Plate Proof Banknotes: Here separate plates are used for printing separate colours which will become a part of the integrated whole Banknote once the colour scheme is finalised for large scale printing.

Trial Colour Proof: These are printed in several different colours or shades as a part of the testing process.

Test Banknotes:  These are fictitious or sample Banknotes which are meant for Banknote printers to be used for showing their printing technology or anti-counterfeiting measures or even to be taken by visitors at Trade shows/currency exhibitions as souvenirs. These can easily be distinguished from Banknotes which circulate as legal tender.

Practice Banknotes:  These are usually of similar dimensions and colour as circulating Banknotes and are used for training purposes.

 An image of the Front a Practice Banknote marked "SPECIMEN" given to me during a visit to the College of Agricultural Banking (CAB), Reserve Bank of India, Pune, when we went for a heritage tour of the College in February this year.

          An image of the Back of the above Practice Banknote.

Play Money: These Banknotes may resemble real Banknotes or be entirely fictitious and are used in games or as promotions or political or commercial advertising, often bearing additional messages overprinted or printed on one side.

Replica Banknotes: These are copies of historical or scarce Banknotes which are sold to museums or to collectors.

Stage Currency or Movie Money: These are printed to resemble historical or current Banknotes to be used on stage in theatrical productions or in films.

Propaganda Banknotes: These are issued by political factions or belligerent enemies as a psychological warfare.

Counterfeit Money Banknotes: These include presently circulating counterfeits which are put into circulation by fraudsters, unscrupulous persons or even some hostile foreign governments as a part of a campaign to destabilise the economy of another country.

(The above Banknotes are from the collection of Jayant Biswas, who had to go to great lengths to get these for his collection. Firstly his Bankers effected the payment to Jersey after going through a rigorous income tax procedure, and then 40 emails were exchanged with Jersey. These Specimen Banknotes, thereafter,  travelled from the States of Jersey to London, UK, then to Irvine in the USA, then to New Delhi and finally to Pune to be in Jayant’s collection.  Wondering when the import procedures in India will be simplified in favour of Collectors & Numismatists. Banknotes scanned and article researched and written by Rajeev Prasad.)



Links:

British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 

11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint 

Famous Battles: 

1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 

2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone

 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

Inspirations from Scottish History: 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes

Banknotes from Scotland:
  
1) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote