Back in the day December 07th 1941, Imperial Japan quietly started a war by surprise against the US army stationed at Pearl Harbor. President Franklin D. Roosevelt speaking to Congress on December 8, 1941 said “December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” A lot of damage to soldiers and military equipment after a raid that lasted only 4 hours.
The Cause for Creating the New Series of Hawaiian Overprinted Notes
In early 1942, in the face of the danger that the Hawaiian Islands might be invaded and becoming a part of Japan would very likely become a reality. Imagine if all the notes in circulation on the island fell into the hands of the Japanese invaders, the danger would be incalculable. Delos Carleton Emmons, the military governor of the islands, issued an order to recall all US Paper Money on the islands on January 10, 1942, with the exception of predetermined limits on the amount of money that both individuals and companies might possess at any given time.
After the order for recall, another new series of notes designated for only Hawaiian was re-designed and released in circulation on the island. In the event of a Japanese invasion, the US government will declare these notes immediately worthless.
The Appearance of the Hawaiian Emergency Issue Dollar Bill
The Hawaii Emergency Issue Dollar Bill, also known as the "Hawaii Dollar Bill," was a unique currency series issued during World War II. This series of notes consisted of four denominations, including $1 Silver Certificate and $5, $10, $20 Federal Reserve Notes, all with a distinctive brown seal and serial numbers. While the designs of these notes were similar to their predecessors, they were distinguishable by the changes made to the serial numbers and the treasury seal, which were colored brown. Additionally, the large word "HAWAII" was overprinted on the back, and a small version was added vertically along the left or right side on the front.
These notes were in circulation from June 5, 1942, to October 21, 1944, after which they were gradually withdrawn from circulation. By April 1946, they were no longer in use.
The Legacy of Hawai Dollar Bill
Nowadays, the Hawaiian Overprinted Note is one of the most favorite paper money series also curious about its history during World War II among collectors and has become a symbol of Hawaiian heritage.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Hawaiian Overprinted Notes is their historical significance. These notes were created to counter the risk of all US paper money in circulation on the Hawaiian Islands falling into the hands of Japanese invaders during World War II. The unique overprint of "HAWAII" on the notes made them distinguishable and helped the US government declare them immediately worthless in case of a Japanese invasion.
Collecting U.S. paper money is not just a matter of acquiring currency, it is also a way of preserving history. The Hawaii Emergency Currency is a unique piece of American history that offers a glimpse into a crucial moment in our country's past. The combination of historical significance combined with unique overprint "HAWAII", makes them a valuable and sought-after item among numismatists and collectors.
So, whether you're an experienced collector or just starting to build your collection, the Hawaiian Emergency Currency is an excellent addition that is sure to be a conversation starter.
