As part of the Societe Liberation 80 celebrations the Numismatics section has been looking at the coinage in circulation during the occupation.
Before the second world war Jersey used the British pre decimal monetary system and only minted two coins for use in the Island a1/24th and a 1/12th of a shilling, the rest of the coins in circulation were the nine British coins a ¼ penny to a crown and 10 shilling to 5 pound banknotes, at this time Jersey didn’t have it’s own banknotes.
The Germans bought their own coinage and banknotes to the Island 1 to 50 Reichpfenning and 1 to 5 Reichmark coins and 50 Reichpfenning to 50 Reichmark banknotes.
The rate of exchange for most of the occupation was 9.36 Reichmarks to the Pound sterling, 1 Reichmark was worth 2 shillings and 1 and a ¼ pennies (10 1/2 p).
There was always more coins leaving the Island’s then were coming in, after a while the Germans allowed French coins and banknotes to be used in the Island, most of which the Vichy French coins 50 centimes and 1 to 5 Francs and 5 to 50 Franc banknotes.
It appears that other occupied countries coins were also in use,in a collection of occupation coins I was given by an aunt, there were Belgium, Dutch , Czech and Polish coins
The rate of exchange was set by the Germans at 20 Francs to 1 Reichmark, and 1 Franc was worth 1 and ¼ pennies. (1/2p).
The States decided in late 1941 to issue their own banknotes for 6 pence,1 shilling, 2 shillings, 10 shillings and £1,there was also a plan to mint coins however no metal was available so banknotes were printed
If anyone would like to see these banknotes, the Société Jersiaise librarian Valerie has a display of items in the members room from the Liberation, which includes a set of Jersey occupation banknotes.
For more information please contact numismatics@societe.je
Dave Le Long – Chair Numismatics Section
