January 20, 2024

Jersey Banknotes

In 1817 W. Plees wrote in his book, 'Account of the Island of Jersey', a very good description of the currency situation in early 19th century Jersey. From this I quote: "The coin current in Jersey was, until lately, chiefly that of France, with a small proportion of Spanish money. The usual amount of specie in circulation, has been estimated at nearly £80,000 sterling. After the French revolution, the coin of England came more generally into use, until the increased value of gold and silver completely drained the island of all specie but copper, and even that became scarce. There were, at this point, three regular banking houses in the town of St. Helier. These, and a few mercantile men, were accustomed to issue notes, payable to the bearer on demand, for twenty-four livres French currency, or £1 sterling. So great, however, and so increasing were the inconveniences occasioned by the almost total disappearance of silver, that those houses were obliged to issue notes of five and ten shillings: this induced individuals to do the same; all having 'Jersey Bank' on their notes; until there were about eighty of these soi disant bankers. The island was soon inundated with notes, from the value of £1 down to that of one shilling; many of them issued by the lowest description of traders and publicans. Alarming as this undoubtedly was, necessity gave to these notes a general and ready circulation. Seriously aware of the ultimate consequences, likely to result from this unrestrained emission of paper money, the States resolved to have a silver coin struck: accordingly, a quantity of tokens was issued bearing the value of three shillings, and of eighteen pence English, ..."

Why not visit my collection of banknotes -- all with the serial number 137!

During the 19th century, Jersey had about 100 banks issued by many individuals, parishes, churches, and companies. These are but a few of them.
St. Saviour's Bank, Jersey £1, Jen Ahier, 17 October 1837 serial number 190	Jersey Bank, Matth'w Amiraux, Will'm Le Breton & Co., £1, 10 November 1815, serial number 1747	Jersey Joint Stock Bank Arthur, de Carteret & Co. £1, 2 January 1860 serial number 5994
Jersey Joint Stock Bank, Directors & Company of the Jersey Joint Stock Bank. unissued £1, 2 June 1871 serial number 9940	Jersey Joint Stock Bank, Directors & Company of the Jersey Joint Stock Bank. proof £1, ND (1867) no serial number or signature	Jersey Joint Stock Bank unissued £1, 2 January 1860
Jersey Joint Stock Bank proof/specimen £1, ND (1847-73) no signatures or serial numbers black specimen stamp	Jersey Joint Stock Bank specimen £1, 1 January 1856 no signatures or serial numbers manuscript SPECIMEN written in signature strip	Jersey Joint Stock Bank proof £1, ND (1847-73)
Wesleyan Methodist Country Chapels Bank £1, 25 July 1835	Wesleyan Methodist Country Chapels Bank proof/pull £1 in blue, ND (1835-50) no signatures or serial numbers,on provincial bank watermarked paper	Jersey Note, Michel Baudains £1, 23 October 1813 serial number 147, signature of Michel Baudains at right
Bible Christian Church £1 on Irish paper	St. Brelade's Association Bank, Geo. John Bosdet & Co. £1, 25 March 1859 serial number 191	St. Saviour's Bank, George Collas, Chief of Police £1, 17 January 1832 serial number 146, signature of George Collas cancelled with ink crosses at low right
St. Saviour's Bank, George Collas, Chief of Police £1, 17 January 1832 serial number 215, signature of Artr(?) Austin, Constable, cancelled with ink crosses at low right	St. Saviour's Bank, George Collas, Chief of Police, £1 17 January 1832 serial number 257, signature of George Collas	St. Saviour's Bank, George Collas, Chief of Police £1, 17 January 1832, serial number 147 signature of George Collas, cancelled with ink crosses at low right
Jersey Banking Company. A.D.1828, Gosset, de Grunchy & Co. proof £1, 9 April 1863	Jersey Banking Company .A.D.1828, Gosset, de Gruchy & Co. proof/specimen £1, 1 January 1864 no signatures or serial numbers	Jersey Banking Company .A.D.1828, Gosset, de Gruchy & Co. proof/specimen £1 in blue, 1 January 1870 no signatures or serial numbers
The Esplanade £1, 19 February 1830 serial number 212, issued for 'the construction of a line of quays from the North Pier to Patriotic Place', and guaranteed by the States of Jersey	Franche Ville Bank proof/pull £1, ND (1833-35)	Jersey Bank, E. Gaudin £1, 19 January 1815 serial number 172, signature of E. Gaudin at low right, David Gaudin at low left
Jersey Bank, presumed E. Gaudin unissued £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers	Country Bank Jersey, Gibaut Orange & Company, proof in blue for £1, 18- no serial number	Old Bank, Jersey 1797, proof £1 on un-watermarked paper, 18- no signatures or serial numbers
Jersey, John James Guiton & Co. unissued £1, 181-	Jersey Bank, P.H.Hamon £1, 1 April 1814 serial number 124, signature of Hamon at low right	Jersey Bank, P.H.Hamon £1, 3 July 1813 serial number 1350, signature of Hamon at low right
Hand-in-Hand Bank proof/pull 2 Shillings & 6 Pence, 181- no signatures or serial numbers	Hand-in-Hand Bank proof/pull 2 Shillings & 6 Pence, 181- no signatures or serial numbers, no watermark	Hand-in-Hand Bank proof/pull 5 Shillings, 181- no signatures or serial numbers, 'Island of Jersey' watermark
Channel Islands Bank, Jersey, Horman, Anthoine, Ahier, Le Gros & Co. proof/specimen £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers, red specimen stamp	Channel Islands Bank, Horman, Anthoine, Athier, LeGros & Co. proof £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers, pencil annotations in signature bar	Channel Islands Bank proof £1 18-
International Bank £1, 9 November 1865 serial number 1870, manuscript signature at low right	International Bank, £1 9 November 1865, serial number 2158 manuscript signature at low right	Jersey Commercial Bank, Janvrin, Durell, De Veulle & Co. unissued £1 or 26 Livres, 183-
Jersey Commercial Bank, Janvrin, Durell & Company proof/specimen on card £1, 18- no serial number, black specimen stamp in signature strip	Jersey Commercial Bank, Janvrin, Durell & Company £1, 1 October 1856 serial number 12887, manuscript signatures at low left and right	Jersey Agricultural Association, Trinity Bank £1, 20 October 1835, serial number 40 manuscript signatures of Le Masurier, Blampied, Godeaux and others at low right
Jersey Bank, no partnership name unissued £1, 181-, no signatures or serial number printed by Burnell & Bristol (also in watermark)	Jersey Bank, no partnership name unissued £1, 183- no serial number or signatures	Jersey Bank, partnership name illegible £1, 11 January 1815 serial number 22
The Jersey Deposit Bank, G&H. Challis Bros. & Co. £1, 3 December 1866 serial number 439 manuscript signature of H. Challis at low right	Ann Street Bank proof £1, 18- (c.1817-37) no signature or serial number	Jersey Mercantile Union Bank, Le Bailly, Deslandes & Co. £1, 1 January 1864 serial number W1509 manuscript signatures at low left and right
Jersey Mercantile Union Bank proof/specimen for £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers perforated specimen c. skipper & east, black with green underprint	Jersey Mercantile Union Bank, Joshua Le Bailly, Jos. Deslandes & Co. proof/essay for £1, 18- serial number A00000	Jersey Mercantile Union Bank £1 in blue, 1 October 1858 serial number 7.753, manuscript signatures at low left and right
Jersey Mercantile Union Bank proof/unissued £1, 18- no signatures or serial number	Jersey Mercantile Union Bank unissued £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers blue printing, extra counterfoil paper at left	Mont au Pretre, Jersey Bank £1, 30 December 1839, serial number A693
Mont au Pretre, Jersey Bank, I: and E: Le Bas & Co. unissued £1, 183- no signatures or serial numbers	Jersey Caledonian Bank, Le Cornu, Le Gresley & Co. proof £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers	Jersey Bank, Philip Le Couteur £1, 2 July 1820 serial number 79, manuscript signatures of Jean Salmon and Philip Le Couteur
Jersey, Jas Le Couteur £1, 10 June 1816 serial number 342 signature of Le Couteur at low right	St. John's Jersey. proof £1, 183- no signatures or serial numbers	Jersey Bank, W'm Geo Le Gallais £1, 17 October 1843 serial number 89
St. Brelade's Parish Bank, Elias Le Montais, George Dolbel, E Dolbel, Mat. Le Montais £1, 7 October 1859 serial number 139	Le Coin Bank, Alexandre & Co. £1, 15 August 1835 serial number 386, manuscript signature of Montais at low right	Jersey Banking Company, Nicolle, de Ste Croix, DAuvergne, Le Quesne & Co proof/specimen £1, 18-, no signatures or serial number, black specimen stamp
Jersey Banking Company, Nicolle, de Ste Croix, D'Auvergne & Co proof/specimen £1, 18- no signatures or serial number black specimen stamp	Jersey Union Bank, Noel and Comp. £1, 6 December 1858, serial number 34, signature of Noel at low right	Grouville Parish Bank, Bertram, Noel & Company £1, 24 December 1844 serial number 47 signed by Amice Bertram and Philippe Noel
Parish of St. Brelade unissued £1, 18-, no signature or serial number, on St. Brelades watermarked paper	St. Clement's Parish Bank unissued £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers	Parish of St. Helier, for the paving of Belmont Road £1, 12 November 1835, serial number 28
Town & Parish of St. Helier proof/specimen £1 25 September 1858 no signatures or serial numbers, vignette of Victoria College, black specimen stamp	Parish of St. Helier, for paving Belmont Road £1, printed date 12 November 1835 (and another illegible date of issue) serial number 27 (?)	St. Mary's Parochial Bank, £1 14 March 1901, serial number 693 multiple manuscript signatures
St. Mary's Parochial Bank proof £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers	St. Mary's Parochial Bank unissued £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers, on watermarked paper, blue printing	Parish of St. Peter unissued £1, 189- serial number 778, no signatures 'one' in blue at center
Parish of St. Peter unissued £1, 189-, no serial numbers or signatures 'one' in brown at center, perforated cancelled	Parish of St. Peter unissued £1, 189-, serial number 748 no signatures. brown one in underprint	Mont-A-Labbe Bank, Jersey Charles Poingdestre proof/unissued £1, 18- no signatures or serial numbers, blue printing
Primitive Methodist Trusts unissued £1, ND (1869-79) no signatures or serial numbers on Irish watermarked paper from Kilkenny Bank ink correction to signature title (changed from Entree to Trustees)	St. Lawrence's Marsh or Common £1, 12 March 1835 serial number 108, five manuscript signatures at low left	Jersey, Thos Sorel, Thos Jarvis & John Sorel £1, 16 May 1832, serial number 994 signatures of all three partners at low right and left
The Jersey States, Committee for Harbours specimen £1, 1 June 1874 no signatures or serial numbers, black specimen stamp in signature strip	The Jersey States, Committee for Harbours unissued £1, 1 June 1874 serial number 9849, no signatures	States of the Island of Jersey unissued £5, 1840 no serial number, with multiple manuscript signatures
States of the Island of Jersey proof £5, 18- no signatures or serial numbers	States of the Island of Jersey cancelled £5, 1840 serial number 205	Jersey Bank, George Syvret £1, 4 April 1815 serial number 92, signature of George Syvret at low right
St. Ouen's Bank, George Syvret £1, 4 June 1815 serial number 90, manuscript signature of George Syvret at low right, others at low left	Town Vingtaine of St. Helier £1, 1 October 1880 payable in 1902, serial number A6068 type with blank reverse	Town Vingtaine of St. Helier unissued £1, 18- serial number A7898, no signatures type with stone circle on reverse
Town Vingtaine of St. Helier unissued £1, 18- no signature or serial number type with stone circle on reverse	Town Vingtaine of St. Helier £1, 4 September 1860 serial number 2681 two manuscript signatures at low right	Town Vingtaine of St. Helier unissued £1, 18- no signatures or serial number black and red printing prehistoric stone circle on reverse
Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre, Bath Street, St. Helier £1, 10 February 1838 serial number 898 manuscript signature at low right	Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre £1, 7 December 1838 serial number 2, manuscript signature at low right Charles Street issue	Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre, Charles Street issue £1, 7 December 1838 serial number 1, manuscript signature at low right
Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre proof/pull £1, ND (c.1834) no signatures or serial numbers type intended for the paving of the Rue du Val on Limerick watermarked paper	Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre £1, 1 May 1834 serial number 181 manuscript signatures at low right for the paving of the Rue du Val	Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre, for the paving of the Rue du Val £1, 1 May 1834 serial number 284
St Helier Provident Bank £1, 1 May 1812 serial number 185, on watermarked paper simply saying 'bank', manuscript signature of P.H.Renouf at low right	St. Ouen's Bank (no partnership name) £1, 18- (83) serial number 10 This note does not match the date for any of the known St. Ouen's Banks, and the signature at low left does not match any of the known partners. This note is therefore either an unknown bank, or has been filled in at a later date, incorrectly.	Jersey Accommodation Bank, John Benest £1, 6 July 1816, serial number 40
Bible Christian Society, Jersey partially issued/cancelled £5, ND serial number 35, three signatures cancelled in red ink at low left and right	Bible Christian Society, Jersey unissued £5, ND serial number 62, signature at low right	Jersey Gas Light Company specimen/proof £1 no signatures or serial numbers
Jersey Mercantile Bank	Jersey Bank 1843	Jersey Bank 1814
International Bank	Channel Islands' Bank	States of Jersey
St. Mary's Parochial Bank	Vingtaine of St. Helier	Bible Christian Church
Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre	1832 St. Saviour's Bank	1813 Jersey Bank £1
1813 Jersey Bank £1	1815 Jersey Bank £1	Masonic Temple Company, Limited, £1
Jersey Bank £1 for Le Bailly & Deslandes dated 182x Modern	Jersey Town and Parish of St. Helier £1 September 25, 1858

World War II German Notes used in Jersey
One Mark	Two Marks	Five Marks
Twenty Marks	Fifty Marks

Due to a shortage of coinage during the German occupation, a series of banknotes designed by Edmund Blampied was issued by the States of Jersey in denominations of 6 pence, 1, 2 and 10 shillings, and 1 pound.

States Occupation Notes
Six Pence	One Shilling	Two Shillings
Two Shillings	Ten Shillings	£1

This is a very interesting issue. A special printing of the Bank of England 1948-9 Peppiatt Pound was issued for use on the Channel Island of Jersey. At the center of the front of the notes there is a blue cross. This "secret" cross was probably to track the movement of notes from Jersey to Britain in the immediate post-war (and subsequent period of black market trading). This variety is not recorded in Pick or Duggleby.

Jersey (GB) 1948 BLUE CROSS £1 Note

Designed by Thomas de la Rue's John White, they feature Pietro Annigoni's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and were first printed in 1959.

Pre-decimal Notes
Ten Shillings	£1	£5	Ten pounds

The following notes are various modern banknotes. Depicted are the 1976 and the 1989 series.

Modern Banknotes
£1	£5	£10	£20	£50

Jersey has two commemorative £1 banknotes. In 1995 a note commemorating the 50th anniversary of Liberation of Jersey was issued.
In 2004 acommemorative note marks the 800th anniversary of the division of the Duchy of Normandy in 1204.

£1 Commemoratives

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