WWII Emergency Currency - Yellow Seal

[stratasfan]

Just now found a mention by a vet talking about the paper money that the soldiers got when they were stationed out of the country. Said it had a yellow seal so that you could distinguish it right away. Are these bills all Silver certificates? Are these rare? Don't know anything about it but now would like to know!

 

If anyone has some of these, anyway you would post some pics? We'd love to see them!

[gwb123]

The ones I am aware of were for Hawaii and North Africa. The concern in Hawaii was in case the islands were invaded; in North Africa the caution was for fear of a military defeat or capture of soldiers carrying money.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_overprint_note

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Featured_picture_candidates/U.S._Banknotes_(North_Africa_series)

[stratasfan]

Thanks! Did some looking after reading the above link. Hawaii bills had brown seals and serial numbers, and on the back a large overprint of "HAWAII". North Africa had a yellow seal, but no overprint. Thanks so much for the help! So super interesting and something I'd never heard of until the other day!

[gwb123]

You might find Military Payment Certificates of interest as well:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_payment_certificate

 

These were more to protect local economies from inflation and black market exploitation.

[lettow]

Yellow seal notes were only issued during the initial stage of invasion of enemy held territory in North Africa and Italy. They were used specifically for troop pay and were referred to as "spearhead currency". The British used British Military Authority notes for the same purpose.

 

Once the foothold was established and sufficient stocks of local currency were obtained the spearhead notes were withdrawn and local currency or Allied Military Currency was used for troop pay and local purchase.

 

Yellow seals were also used for personnel traveling between theaters. They were also used in the cigaret camps as pay for soldiers returning to the US for discharge.

 

The Truman Library has a transcript on line of an interview with Bernard Bernstein who was Eisenhower's economic advisor. Bernstein discusses the use of yellow seals at length in the interview.