The Coins And Banknotes Of Fiji!

Finally I have managed to pick up some of that emergency money issued during WW2.

The attack on Pearl Harbour really brought the war into the Pacific and as the Japanese rapidly invaded Singapore, Indonesia and got into New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, it seemed only a matter of time before Fiji was next.

Starting in late 1941, emergency regulations were passed over the supply of stamps and currency. In mid 1941 Fiji increased its postage rate from 2 to 2½d and new stamps from England were sunk in a ship and lost. All of Fiji's coins came out of England too and supplies of coin had been piecemeal since the mid 1930s (as you know 1937/41 dated Fijian coins are mostly scarce compared to 1934/36 dated coins). The note supply was also threatened.

Hence emergency measures were needed. At first small notes for 1 and 2 shillings were issued and these were printed by the Commonwealth printer in Australia.



These were basic dated notes with 3 signatures. The notes are 111 x 68mm (4.4 by 2.7 inches) and the 1 shilling was printed on plain and later pinkish paper. The 2 shillings was only printed on the pinkish paper.

The pinkish paper has "Colony of Fiji" across its back.



My notes are the first type of shilling and the only type of 2 shilling. Colourless specimens and uncut blocks of 6 exist. The shilling is more common than the 2 shilling. My notes are average (Fine).

The other interesting points about these notes is that they are plain backs, have no watermarks and are hand serial number stamped. They also have a rule limiting their use to 40/- (£2) or less.

Also issued were overprinted New Zealand £1 and £5 notes. The notes were the old 1934 series and useless in NZ, like the Hawaii series of US notes, they would be rendered worthless along with all this emergency money if the Japanese took Fiji. These NZ ovpts are rare for the £1 and basically hens teeth for the fivers.

Princetane, well done on completing your half penny set. :)

Now I know why I haven't found any!

Do mints have to prove their mintage figures or can they just make up any number.

Great story

Did not realise there were 2 signatures with the 1971 1 signature series.

The 50 cent note on Page 9 is C.A.Stinson was Pick 64b




This is Pick 64a - Wesley Barrett signature.

And I have its companion, the $1 note, the first 1971 1 signature series dollar I own.




Wesley Barret signature $1 - Pick 65a.

This now means I have all of the Series A dollars except 65b

Realised my mistakes is that all of the 1971 series had the 2 different types A is Barrett, B is Ritchie and of the 1974 Fiji notes only 2 signature types were issued next to 3 for the $2 to $20.

I have the 1969 2 signature dollar and both 1974 signature combinations.

Both notes are Good Fine, lots of wrinkles, but some residual crispiness of the paper, the dollar has a small top edge tear between the O and F of OF.

Nice group!

I think it is beautiful, complete collections of Fiji predecimal coins in Dansco folders are not that rare, they often sell in auctions here, but mostly they are missing the rarer coins like the 1940 halfpenny, 1938 and 1941 Florins and Shillings.

Or if they are complete, the condition of the rare coins is VG or fine, from that one I can clearly see that you have an exceptional collection, all those coins look EF or UNC and I have even noticed spares and a penny that has had its hole struck way off centre.

People go CRAZY for that stuff. One of these collections featuring mostly average examples sdold at Mowbrays for $840NZ a few weeks ago.

I believe your collection would be worth at least $1000 and possibly as much as $1500 - $2000. It's a stunner and