British Armed Forces 10 New Pence Special Voucher (6th Series / 1972) CRISP/UNC

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Great Britain – British Armed Forces 10 New Pence Special Voucher (6th Series / 1972)

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• Issuing Authority: British Armed Forces – Command of the Defense Council ("Issued by Command of the Defense Council")

• Type: Military Payment Certificate (MPC) / Special Voucher

• Denomination: 10 New Pence (10P)

• Series: 6th Series (Decimal issue)

• Date Issued: ND (1972) (Introduced following the UK's February 1971 decimal currency conversion)

• Catalog References: Pick # M48 (Standard Catalog of World Paper Money) / RM # 93 (Richard John Marles)

• Serial Number: A/6 709951 (Printed in orange-red typography vertically at the lower right of the obverse)

• Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd. (New Malden, Surrey, UK)

• Dimensions: Approx. 127 × 63 mm

• Color Palette: Magenta/plum and olive-khaki over intricate geometric lathe spirograph underprints.

Obverse & Reverse Elements

• Obverse (Face):

  • Inscribed: "BRITISH ARMED FORCES / SPECIAL VOUCHER / FOR USE ONLY AS DETAILED ON THE REVERSE".

  • Large central numeric "10" in outlined olive lathe-work beneath bold magenta block lettering "TEN NEW PENCE".

  • Corner denomination indicators marked "10P".

• Reverse (Back):

  • Large stylized magenta numeral "10" with fine guilloche cross-hatching.

  • Central olive medallion stating "TEN NEW PENCE".

  • Strict Restrictive Military Clause:

    "This note is valid only for transactions within official canteens and organizations laid down in G.R.Os. of the theatre. Except as may be expressly provided in G.R.Os. it must in no circumstances be offered to any person who is not entitled to use British service canteens. Improper use of this note is a disciplinary offence and may render the offender liable to penalties."

Historical Context

• Military Voucher System: Following World War II, the British War Office (and later the Ministry of Defense) issued specialized scrip known as BAFVs (British Armed Forces Vouchers) to service personnel stationed overseas (notably the British Army of the Rhine / BAOR in West Germany, Cyprus, Malta, and Singapore).

• Preventing Black Market Arbitrage: These vouchers were used exclusively in official service facilities (such as the NAAFI—Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes—messes and canteens). This strictly isolated military purchasing power from the local civilian economy, preventing post-war currency speculation, black marketeering, and inflationary runs on local currencies.

• The 6th Series (Decimalization): When the UK decimalized in February 1971 (replacing pounds, shillings, and pence with 100 "New Pence" to the pound), the military updated its voucher system, printing the 6th Series in 1972 across 5, 10, 20, and 50 New Pence denominations.

Technical & Visual Assessment

• Technical Grade: Choice Crisp Uncirculated (CU 63 – CU 64)

• Substrate & Surface Preservation:

  • Clean, factory-fresh rag paper preserved completely flat.

  • Entirely free of horizontal or vertical folds, wallet bends, handling waves, or counting flicks.

  • Razor-sharp, perfectly square 90-degree corners.

  • Pristine bright white borders with zero pinholes, staple marks, or edge foxing.

• Centering: Well-balanced margin alignment on both face and reverse.

Collector Value & Market Pricing

• Legal Tender Status: Demonetized military scrip (no legal tender status in civilian commerce).