During the heartrending chaos of World War II, the United States officially entered the war in December 1941 and began direct military assistance in North Africa on 11 May 1942. As part of the operation, a unique currency was issued to U.S. military personnel stationed in North Africa. These were the North Africa Silver Certificates, an "Emergency Issue" currency that served a dual purpose - facilitate payments to soldiers and protect the integrity of American currency.
All military soldiers who participated in the North Africa operation received payment in the form of these North Africa Notes. The decision to create a unique currency for this theater of war was born out of strategic and economic considerations. In the event of a German takeover, the US government needed a way to protect the supply of American currency from falling into enemy hands.
These North Africa Notes were designed to be easily identifiable and could be instantly devalued if necessary, rendering them worthless if captured by the enemy. This concept was similar to the Hawaii Overprinted Notes issued in the Pacific theater.
Design and Denominations of the North Africa Emergency Issue Currency
The North Africa Series of US Silver Certificates, with series dates of 1934, 1934A, and 1935A, were issued in denominations of $1, $5, and $10. This currency, produced exclusively during World War II, was intended for use only within Europe and Northern Africa. The entire series would have been demonetized if U.S. Forces had been defeated, a safeguard ensuring that no economic advantage would be gained by enemy forces.
Unique among US currency, the North Africa emergency issue carried a distinctive identifying marker. The primary distinguishing feature of these certificates is the bright gold or yellow treasury seal, in contrast to the traditional blue seal found on other silver certificates. The obverse of these certificates mirrors the typical design which applied Silver Certificates. This gave rise to the colloquial name "yellow seal" Silver Certificate.
Collecting the "Yellow Seal" Silver Certificate North Africa
Today, this historic World War II banknote is highly sought after by collectors. The unique nature of its issuance, the distinctive yellow seal, and its connection to a pivotal moment in world history combine to make the North Africa Silver Certificate a treasured piece of numismatic history.
While many were exchanged for standard currency after the war, some of these notes have survived into the present day. They represent a fascinating intersection of military history, economics, and numismatics, and continue to draw interest from collectors around the world.
