8

BRITISH WEST AFRICA

Value

20 Shillings

Issued by

West African Currency Board

Date

1928-1951

Printer

Waterlow, London

Remark

Many forgeries of this note do exist - Read more about how to recognize FORGERIES


 Palm tree  "Shilin Ashirin" (Twenty Shillings) in Arabic script
8a

02.01.1928 - 14.09.1934


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 06.11.1941


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 01.12.1942


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 31.01.1946


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 25.10.1946


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 26.06.1947


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 27.05.1948


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 29.11.1948


8b

04.01.1937 - 02.07.1951 / 01.10.1949


Remark

Explanation on how to Recognize Forgeries:

1) Relation between Serial # Prefix and Serial #

The simplest and fastest way on how to recognize a forgery is having a look on the serial # and its fractional prefix
For each prefix (A, B, C ...) 1.000.000 notes have been printed according the following breakdown:

A1 000000 - 099999
A2 100000 - 199999
A3 200000 - 299999
A4 300000 - 399999
A5 400000 - 499999
A6 500000 - 599999
A7 600000 - 699999
A8 700000 - 799999
A9 800000 - 899999
A10 900000 - 1000000
and similar for B, C, D ...

Thus, the number in the prefix fraction is always one higher than the first number of the serial #.

 

serial # of a genuine note

serial # of a forgery


2) Sky Behind the Palm Tree

The sky behind the palm tree is fine and elaborate on genuine notes, whilst it is coarse on forgeries.
 

sky behind palm tree of a genuine note

sky behind palm tree of a forgery


3) Watermark

The watermark "20" is well visible against the light only on genuine notes, whilst it is printed and always visible on forgeries.

 

watermark only visible against the light on a genuine note

printed watermark on a forgery


4) Arabic Final "N" in "Ashirin" on Back

The final "N" on back is slightly different on genuine notes and forgeries

 
final "N" on back of a genuine note final "N" on back of a forgery



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