Like most people of his generation, my father saved stuff, especially
“special” stamps, currency and coins - below is a $10 bill of his that he gave
to me.
According to the Federal Reserve, with the start of World War II, the
US started printing specialized military currency to provide economic stability
for the US dollar in occupied countries.
In Hawaiʻi, the Treasury Department replaced all US currency with
special issue notes as a precautionary measure in the event of a Japanese
victory.
These notes were circulated only in Hawai‘i and their brown seals and
serial numbers differentiated them from notes issued on the mainland.
Overprints of the word HAWAII were made; two small overprints to the
sides of the obverse of the bill between the border and both the treasury seal
and Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco seal, and huge outlined HAWAII
lettering dominating the reverse.
The hope was that, should there have been a Japanese invasion, the US
Government could immediately declare any Hawai‘i-stamped notes worthless, due
to their easy identification.
$1, $5, $10 and $20 San Francisco Reserve notes featured the seal and
serial numbers that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing called the
"Hawaiʻi Overprint" (from July 1942 until October 1944.)
Hawai‘i wasn’t the only place where special currency was
distributed. Similarly, special notes
were issued for use by American troops during the invasion of North Africa in
November 1942.
These notes were overprinted with distinctive yellow Treasury Seals to
distinguish them from the regular Silver Certificates overprinted with blue
seals.
Like the overprinted Hawai‘i notes, these distinctive certificates
could be declared worthless if large amounts fell into enemy hands.
In addition to the Hawai‘i currency issued, the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing produced or oversaw the private production of Allied military currency
used in Italy, France, Austria, Germany and Japan during and after the war.
The Department of the Treasury redeems all genuine United States
currency at face value only, and does not render opinions concerning the
numismatic value of old or rare currencies.
However, numerous websites indicate premiums are being paid for these
special bills. (I am keeping mine as a
reminder of my father.)
No comments:
Post a Comment