{"product_id":"1940-bank-of-england-uk-1-one-british-pound-banknote-p-367-serial-no-k90h-582531","title":"1940 Bank of England, UK - £1 (One) British Pound Banknote P-367 Serial No. K90H 582531","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1940 Bank of England 1 Pound – George VI Emergency Issue (Pick 367)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 1940 £1 note (Pick 367) is one of the most historically significant pieces of mid‑20th‑century British currency. Issued at the height of World War II under King George VI, this emergency‑print banknote reflects a nation under pressure, adapting its currency to wartime realities while preserving the dignity and symbolism of the Bank of England’s long tradition. With its blue‑and‑pink colour palette, classical Britannia vignette, and engraving by W. M. Keesey, it stands as a compelling artefact of Britain’s wartime resilience.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Context\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIssued on \u003cstrong\u003e29 March 1940\u003c\/strong\u003e, this note belongs to the special series of \u003cstrong\u003eEmergency Banknotes\u003c\/strong\u003e produced during the early years of World War II. Britain faced unprecedented threats — including the risk of enemy invasion and the possibility that large quantities of currency could fall into hostile hands.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo counter this, the Bank of England redesigned its £1 and 10‑shilling notes with new colours and layouts that could be quickly invalidated if necessary. The 1940 £1 note thus represents a strategic shift in currency design driven by national security rather than aesthetics alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis issue circulated throughout the war and into the post‑war recovery period, remaining legal tender until \u003cstrong\u003e28 May 1962\u003c\/strong\u003e. It is one of the last major Bank of England notes issued during the reign of \u003cstrong\u003eKing George VI (1936–1952)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Specifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePick Number:\u003c\/strong\u003e P‑367\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 Pound\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Emergency Issue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing Authority:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bank of England\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReign:\u003c\/strong\u003e King George VI\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssue Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 29 March 1940\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e 28 May 1962\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 151 × 84 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rectangular\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pound sterling (pre‑decimal)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEngraver:\u003c\/strong\u003e W. M. Keesey\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign Elements\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObverse\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in \u003cstrong\u003elight or dark blue with pink undertones\u003c\/strong\u003e, the front features:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeated Britannia\u003c\/strong\u003e at the upper left — a classical emblem of national strength, maritime power, and continuity during wartime uncertainty.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrnate guilloché patterns\u003c\/strong\u003e that provide both decoration and anti‑counterfeiting complexity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTraditional promise text\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cem\u003e“Bank of England – I promise to pay the Bearer on Demand the sum of One Pound.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon\u003c\/strong\u003e printed below, with the formal inscription: \u003cem\u003e“For the Govr. and Compa. of the Bank of England.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe engraving work by \u003cstrong\u003eW. M. Keesey\u003c\/strong\u003e gives the note a crisp, authoritative aesthetic typical of pre‑decimal British currency.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReverse\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe back of the note features:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA detailed engraving of the \u003cstrong\u003eBank of England building\u003c\/strong\u003e at the top — a symbol of financial stability during wartime.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSovereign coins\u003c\/strong\u003e depicted at left and right, reinforcing the note’s link to Britain’s long monetary heritage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClean, symmetrical layout characteristic of early‑20th‑century British banknote design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecurity Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile simpler than later post‑war issues, the 1940 emergency note includes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Classical head (varies by print batch), visible when held to light\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSerial Numbers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Printed twice for verification\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColour Scheme:\u003c\/strong\u003e Distinctive blue and pink tones chosen specifically to differentiate it from pre‑war notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese features were designed to make counterfeiting more difficult during a period when enemy forgery was a genuine threat.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollector’s \u0026amp; Gift Appeal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wartime £1 note holds strong appeal across multiple collecting themes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWWII collectors\u003c\/strong\u003e – A direct product of Britain’s wartime emergency measures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeorge VI enthusiasts\u003c\/strong\u003e – A key note from the final pre‑decimal reign before Elizabeth II\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBritannia‑themed collections\u003c\/strong\u003e – One of the last major issues to feature the classical allegory\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre‑decimal currency fans\u003c\/strong\u003e – A cornerstone piece from the shilling‑and‑pound era\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical gift item\u003c\/strong\u003e – A meaningful keepsake for anyone with family ties to the 1940s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts long circulation life (1940–1962) also makes it a nostalgic piece for those who lived through the post‑war decades.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy Collect This Banknote?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 1940 £1 Emergency Issue is more than a monetary instrument — it is a wartime document. It captures a moment when Britain had to rethink even its currency to protect national security. The combination of its emergency‑issue status, George VI era origin, and classical Britannia design makes it a standout piece in any numismatic collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt represents \u003cstrong\u003eadaptation under pressure\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003econtinuity in crisis\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the enduring symbolism of the Bank of England during one of the most challenging periods in modern British history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"notescounter","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56452723736953,"sku":null,"price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0915\/7168\/3705\/files\/20260106_105620.jpg?v=1767699544","url":"https:\/\/notescounter.co.uk\/products\/1940-bank-of-england-uk-1-one-british-pound-banknote-p-367-serial-no-k90h-582531","provider":"notescounter","version":"1.0","type":"link"}