Queen Elizabeth collections

Great Britain:
I will keep this post short as I don't have a lot of examples from England & the tough ones (replacements/experimental) are pricey.

P-374a ONE POUND:


These notes have some great experimental "G" varieties indicating the Goebbels press production. This & replacement varieties are ones I'd like to go for some day.

P-382a Five Pounds:


Early versions were often confused due to the lack of a 5 Marker. Later, modified with a 5 (where the crown is) versions, became more distinctive.

P-382a Five Pounds (first prefix):

A01 prefixes can be tough to come by since the runs are small & change quickly to A02, etc.

There are many short releases of other series such as the first TWENTY pounds (P-380a) with the short JS Fforde signature.

I have used Pam West's excellent British Notes Specialist site for reference.

 

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Guernsey:
The 2nd largest Channel Island, Guernsey is considered part of Normandy, & has QEII as their head of state, though the country is independent of the UK. One thing collectors can be certain of is, the notes will have small numbers issued, & will be "tough" (by most standards) from the get-go.

Here is P-58a, a "Z" replacement which features St. Sampson's church, Vale Castle & sailing boats on the reverse:

 

Hong Kong:
Here is my favourite QEII note from the "Government of Hong Kong." This new issue with the young queen were much more popular than the earlier series (or so I was told).

P-324Aa (1952) $1.00 printed by Bradbury & Wilkinson:

PMG lumps all the date/variations of the $1.00 as "P-324A" but some ("b" 1954/& "c" 1955 dates with block letter prefixes) are tougher than others (I just wanted a fractional "a" prefix). The 1958/59 dates make up for over 60% of the notes one finds today (& were relatively inexpensive for UNC). No other denominations were released.

And here's P-316 Government of Hong Kong $1.00 from her dad's series:


I have since learned, according to some collectors from that region, that many native citizens of Hong Kong, disliked the note (above) b/c they considered it "ghostly" or "bad luck." They preferred the earlier purple version or the other banknotes (Mercantile, Hong Kong & Shanghai, Chartered, etc).

 

Isle of Man:
This small island dependency (similar to Guernsey or Falkland Island) had small issues so you're guaranteed that most notes from IoM will be tough in higher condition.

This 1967 10 Shillings (P-24b with Stallard signature) I picked up from Pam West for a reasonable price. I just realized (today) that I don't have a scan (or image) of this acquisition (so I need to take one).

P-27 50 New Pence:
According to Numista, " This short lived issue was in preparation for the decimalization of the British pound which occurred in 1971. This blue 50 new pence note replaced the old red 10 shillings note."

P-38 1983 One Pound (Bradvek or Tyvek Z)
Here's one of the early experiments with a polymer type substrate. I don't believe they were very popular and hoards were put aside (they're not hard to get). I submitted my example & it earned a 66 from PMG.

P-35 Five Pounds (1979):


Most of the notes from the Isle of Man have beautiful scenic landmarks, like this view of Castle Rushen.

 

I realize this borders on the blasphemous, but I also like Queen Elizabeth’s portrait on a coin.

 

Very brilliant looking coin Steve. Is that a proof? One of the reasons I don't collect them is b/c I know so little about coins- but that one has quite a sophisticated design & the strike appears as if its almost 3D! 1 Oz of silver ain't nothing to sneeze at.

Back to banknotes:

Jamaica
I lived on the island for 2 years (1995-1996) but never came across QEII notes (pre-independence). I heard (a lot) about those days from a former landlord who thought the country had slipped behind the rest of the world in many ways since. Of course we can all lament the past (its easy to romanticize). The best notes (UNC) I came across were like this:

but which was worth about $4.00 CDN, a taxi ride across Kingston or a box lunch. So, unfortunately, I did not keep any. And when I started to collect World currency (about 10 years ago) many Jamaican notes were very cheap (almost like Yugoslavia or Venezuela) so I put off picking them up. In the meantime, they've only gone up so the delay has cost me. As far as QEII notes, however, these were in a league of their own (dear) so I was very happy to pick up the 3 examples in one World Banknote auction. One of the reasons they're dear is that they're the first Bank of Jamaica series with a lot of revisions (most of which- most collectors -including myself- lack). Plus, they're pre-decimal!

P-49 Five Shillings:



P-51Be Ten Shillings:
P-51Ce One Pound:


The first note is the first edition of this series (with the first S. W. Payton signature) & the Latin motto (not that you can read it without a magnifying glass). I thought I would pick up one example of the first version. I wanted an earlier revised version for the 10 /- (English motto & Hall signature) but lost on the bid & had to settle for last ("Brown" signature) versions on the 2 higher denominations. The 5 Pound would be a nice goal some day.

I find the reverse designs very reminiscent of my 2 years in Jamaica (different technology but similar scenes). In all my travels across the island I saw a lot of work on the farms & enjoyed a great day at Dunns River Falls (back of the 5/-).

 

Jersey:
This independent nation has a similar relationship to GB as Guernsey. However, they use the queen's image much longer than the other island & most of their issues won't break the bank. I find the note's design similar to Malta.

P-8c One Pound (1963 no signature):

Apparently a large group of notes missed the signature pass & were released, so labelled as P-8c (rather than the regular versions P-8a & 8b).

P-9b 1963 Five Pounds:



The 1960's design features a young Queen Elizabeth on the front & St. Aubin's fort (with a map of Jersey on the bottom right).

P-10a (1963-1972) Ten Pounds:


This highest denomination was released 10 years later. It features St. Ouen's Manor on the reverse. There are Z replacement versions & they're not hard to come by in UNC.

 

I just realized that I had forgotten to include
Gibraltar.
Below is my favourite QEII note from "the Rock." There's also a 5 (which shows one of their resident monkeys) which is nice too.

P-22a 1975 10 Pounds:


One of the toughest notes (which I don't have) happens to be the 20 Pounds. That would be a great note to add to an advance collection.

 

Back on track (alphabetically speaking), the next "line up" featuring QEII comes from Malaya & British Borneo. Unfortunately, I have been unsuccessful acquiring any examples from this colonial dependency as much as I have struggled to obtain a decent (& affordable) example from East Africa (now Kenya). Check out this BM link to the Bank of Commissioners $1.00 (P-1) which would be the most affordable note you could pick up. The note below is not my note but a screen capture of a One Dollar I would love to pick up someday:
I have literally been blown away at how the prices for these have jumped up to double (or more) estimates (& my expectations), every time I bid (tried to acquire one in UNC).

 

Malta had a rich history during World War 2 & it is also a favourite amongst many World paper collectors. The QEII notes don't seem to be quite as tough to acquire as Cyprus.

P-28a Ten Shillings:

P-29 One Pound:


P-30 Five Pounds:


The front of the 5 pounds actually appears more blueish (& the back more purplish) than the scan of the note. My scanner had crapped out on me so the note appears to be the same colour as the 1 pound but they're more different to the eye.

 

The latest QEII notes from Mauritius may be the most affordable nation you can get. The 1954 design by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co (P-27, P-28 & P-29) don't come cheap but the 1967 TDLR series do. There are 2 tough signature varieties (the "b" version the toughest) but the "c" variety is quite accessible. Below are 2 examples of the "c" variety:

P-30c 5 Rupees:

P-31c 10 Rupees:

 

New Zealand is the little neighbour of Australia & has a similar relationship that Canada experiences with the USA. The small size means a much smaller issue of banknotes (like Canada) & as such, makes this nation worth collecting. I really like their pre-decimal designs as well but I won't stray off topic!
The first series to feature QEII was first issued in 1967 & lasted till 1981. Most of the first (Flemming) & some of the 2nd (Wilks) signature varieites can be elusive in higher grades. As the series progresses, the "c" (Knight) & "d" (Hardie) signatures are fairly inexpensive & readily available.

To start off:
P-163c: $1.00 Solid Radar with Knight signature:


(It just so happens that 2 years after I won this note, I bought its "sister note" C24 111110 blindly from Allen's Coins! What a nice surprise & what would the odds be for that happening?)

If you can get yourself a nice note with the first (Flemming) signature- it would be worth your while as these have been very tough (I've lost every bid) & their prices just keep going up.

The 1st young QEII series (1967-1981)

P-163cr $1.00 replacement (Knight signature):


P-167d $20.00 (Hardie signature):



The 2nd Mature QEII series (1981-1992)

P-170c $2.00 radar (Brash signature):



P-171br replacement (Russell signature):


Now I know I need the $10! (& either series would work -though I would prefer the first 1967 series). Wish me luck!

 

A collector of QEII banknotes could spend a lifetime just focussing on the 3 incarnations of Rhodesia! First came Southern Rhodesia & this colony transformed into Rhodesia & Nyasaland which later became (simply) Rhodesia. The first incarnation only lasted 3 years while the 2nd entity was 6 years! This makes the first two versions the most difficult notes to obtain.

The most recent Rhodesian issue (that we're all familiar with) didn't exist much longer before it also dropped the queen's portrait (in 1970). Acquiring decent, original EF (& up) examples can be challenging for all denominations & some issued varieties are more elusive than others. The last QEII series P-27 to P-29, which was designed/printed in Rhodesia, seems to be the most accessible. They have a dark shadow behind the queen's portrait that the 1964 Bradbury Wilkinson versions lack.

P-27a Ten Shillings:

I would like to get more of these (the 1 & 5 Pound would be nice) & from the first 2 colonies, but they're all very pricey the farther back one reaches.

 

Next up is the tiny outpost of Saint Helena (where Napolean Bonaparte was banished to live the rest of his life). The island of Saint Helena did not adopt their own currency until 1976. Initially, the first design had a spelling error on the back motto & the design was modified (to correct it) in a more common "b" variety.

P-7a 5 Pounds (incorrect spelling of "Anglae:"



P-7b (Reverse Motto corrected "Angliae"):


I have found the initial/error 1 Pound note (1976 P-6a) a bit elusive & the 1979 10 Pound (P-8a) tough note to source but the 1976 50 Pence, modified 1 Pound (P-9) & 20 Pound (P-10) were readily available.

Here's an example of P-10 the first 1986 Twenty Pound note which is fairly large format (& has a fairly cool design on the back):

 

Scotland has featured QEII on two of their notes as anniversary editions. The first time we see her is on the Royal Bank of Scotland's "The Queen's Golden Jubilee" 2002 issue. It sports a TQGJ prefix and slightly informal shots of HM on the back of the 5 pound:

P-362 2002 RBS 5 Pounds:


And again, 10 years later for the Diamond jubilee (with the TQDJ prefix) + 4 informal images of her on the back of the note:

P-368 2012 on the RBS 10 pounds:


I don't own either note (since they both seem more like numismatic collector series products) but as the years go on, I think I wouldn't mind getting an UNC example of each.

 

The Solomon Islands achieved independence in 1976 & issued banknotes with QEII portraits from 1977-1986. The islands are northeast of Australia & a have population of less than 1,000,000. These mid-70's series printed by TDLR would have had very small print runs to serve such small numbers. However, the lower denominations ($2.00 & $5.00) are plentiful & quite inexpensive in crisp UNC condition. The larger denominations ($10 & $20) can be much tougher (& dear) to source.

P-5a 1977 $2.00:


P-6a 1977 $5.00:



P-7ar 1977 $10.00 replacement:



P-12 (1984) $20.00:



Note that my $20 was from the 2nd print run in 1984 (whereas the 1st run P-8 was produced in 1981). Both are tough to source but I have seen more P-12's than P-8's offered. The $10 also had a 2nd (1984) print run (P-11). Also, I have seen seldom seen a 2nd uncommon signature variety on the $5.00 & the first $10.00 (P-6b & P-7b) which happen to be quite tough to scarce. The $10 replacement is very tough to source.

As is typical with British notes, the larger the denomination, the larger the note. The $10 & $20 are fairly large so the back designs are even more appealing to eyeball!

 

Oops, I mucked up the order of nations again & forgot to post Seychelles (after Scotland).

The Seychelles islands are one of those places where few notes were issued so we don't see them up for grabs very often. The little islands start off with a QEII profiled design in 1954 (much like Falkland Island initial series featuring HM QEII) such as this 5 Rupees. But this early series has been much less popular than the 1968 2nd series which had a number of odd design elements that appeared controversial back then.

I was hoping to pick up
an infamous 50 Rupees "SEX note" (P-17) but had to settle for this diminutive 5 Rupees (P-14) which is far more common in higher grades:

 

So finally we come to Trinidad which had QEII featured on their currency for a short while. I won this $10 at auction but have struggled to attain either the red $1.00 or the green $5.00.

P-28c (1964) $10.00:



All series have 3 signature varieties with the first 2 (McLeod, Pierce) the toughest & the last (Bruce) signature the most common. The ONE Dollar is often on sale (ungraded) on eBay but I am gun-shy about paying an inflated price for a pressed or Almost UNC. The Five, Ten & Twenty are the most elusive in better grades.

That wraps up my collection of QEII notes. I just purchased the Commemorative 10 Pound from Scotland & may add it to this thread once it arrives.

 

I didn't wait years (but just weeks really). I found this
Scotland P-368 & "pulled the trigger" as many of us say:

 

I don't have anything too exciting - just a bunch of Canadian bills I've picked up over the years.