Guernsey 20 Pounds (2018 100th Anniversary of The Great War)

Description

The pound is the official currency of Guernsey since 1921 when it replaced the French livre, and the country became part of the monetary union with the United Kingdom. The Guernsey pound is not a separate currency but a local issue of sterling-denominated notes and coins. The first pound notes were issued in 1924 with a denomination of 10 shillings. During the German occupation in 1941, notes were introduced in denominations of 6 pence, 1 shilling, 3 pence, 2 shillings, 6 pence and 5 shillings. After the liberation in 1945, the £5 notes were introduced, followed by £10 in 1975, £20 in 1980 and £50 in 1994. The official currency symbol: £/p (pre-decimal).

The 20 Jersey pounds commemorative note front design features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other commonwealth realms), on a background with stylized royal patterns, the National Coat of Arms (Seal of Guernsey) within a coin surrounded by flowers, an illustration of the St. James Concert Hall located in St Peter Port (Capital city), a branch of Guernsey lilies and a sketch of a cruiser. The reverse of the note presents an illustration of St Sampson’s Church and some sailing boats on the bay and the Vale Castle located in Vale, which is a 1,000-year-old protected castle.  The design is completed with Guernsey clematis flowers and a sketch of a cruisier. This note is part of the 2018 commemorative series “100th Anniversary of the Great War (WWI 1918 – 2018)”. Its color is rose, orange, and red on a multicolor underprint.

Text: THE STATES OF GUERNSEY, PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND THE SUM OF TWENTY POUNDS, BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATES, STATES TREASURER, S ‘BALLIVIE INSVLE DEGERNERE VE, St. James Concert Hall, The Great War 1914 – 1918 100 years Commemoration, St Sampson’s Church, Vale Castle, 20£.