Jersey pound
Encyclopedia
The pound is the currency of Jersey
. Jersey is in currency union
with the United Kingdom, and the Jersey pound is not a separate currency but is an issue of banknotes and coins by the States of Jersey
denominated in pound sterling, in a similar way to the banknotes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland (see Banknotes of the pound sterling). It can be exchanged at par with other sterling coinage and notes (see also sterling zone).
For this reason, ISO 4217
does not include a separate currency code for the Jersey pound, but where a distinct code is desired JEP is generally used.
Both Jersey and Bank of England
notes are legal tender
in Jersey and circulate together, alongside the Guernsey pound
and Scottish banknotes. Although the Jersey notes are not legal tender in the United Kingdom, creditors and traders may accept them if they so choose.
The livre
was the currency of Jersey until 1834. It consisted of French coins which, in the early 19th century, were exchangeable for sterling
at a rate of 26 livres = 1 pound. After the livre was replaced by the franc
in France in 1795, the supply of coins in Jersey dwindled leading to difficulties in trade and payment. In 1834, an Order in Council adopted the pound sterling as Jersey's sole official legal tender, although French copper coins continued to circulate alongside British silver coins, with 26 sous equal to the shilling
. Because the sous remained the chief small-change coins, when a new copper coinage was issued for Jersey in 1841, it was based on a penny worth of a shilling, the equivalent of 2 sous. This system continued until 1877, when a penny of of a shilling was introduced.
Along with the rest of the British Isles
, Jersey decimalized in 1971 and began issuing a full series of circulating coins from ½p to 50p. £1 and £2 denominations followed later.
As of December 2005, there was £64.7m of Jersey currency in circulation. A profit of £2.8m earned on the issue of Jersey currency was received by the Treasurer of the States in 2005.
In 1968, 5 and 10 pence coins were introduced, followed by 50 pence in 1969 and ½, 1 and 2 pence in 1971 when decimalization took place. All had the same composition and size as the corresponding British coins. A 20 pence coin was introduced in 1982, followed by a 1 pound coin in 1983 and 2 pounds in 1998. The ½ penny coin was last minted in 1981. The 1 and 2 pounds coins are not commonly encountered.
issued notes, as did the Vingtaine de la Ville
. Legislation in 1831 attempted to regulate such issues by requiring note issuers to be backed by two guarantors, but the parishes and the Vingtaine de la Ville were exempted from the regulatory provisions. Most of the notes were 1 pound denominations, although at least one 5 pound issue was made. These locally produced notes, which were often issued to fund public works, ceased to be issued after the 1890s.
During the German occupation in the Second World War
, a shortage of coinage (partly caused by occupying troops taking away coins as souvenirs) led to the passing of the Currency Notes (Jersey) Law on 29 April 1941. A series of 2 shilling notes (blue lettering on orange paper) were issued. The law was amended on 29 November 1941 to provide for further issues of notes of various denominations, and a series of banknotes designed by Edmund Blampied
was issued by the States of Jersey in denominations of 6 pence, 1, 2 and 10 shillings, and 1 pound. The six pence note was designed by Blampied in such a way that the wording of the word six on the reverse incorporated an outsized "X" so that when the note was folded, the result was the resistance
symbol "V" for victory
.
At Liberation in May 1945, the States stopped issuing notes.
. Despite the introduction of a 1 pound coin, the 1 pound note continues to circulate.
.
In 2004, a special edition £1 note was introduced in general circulation alongside the St. Helier Parish Church note; this commemorative note marks the 800th anniversary
of the division of the Duchy of Normandy
in 1204 and the design consequently includes Mont Orgueil
castle and other historic symbol
s. It has serial number with prefix "J8C" which stands for "Jersey 800".
In 2012, a £100 note will be issued to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
.
, French
and Jèrriais
. A £100 note will be added to the series and released later in 2010 after the other denominations have entered circulation.
The obverse of the new notes includes a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II based on a photograph by Mark Lawrence, alongside a view of an important Jersey landmark, with text in English. The reverse of each note includes an image of one of Jersey's numerous historic coastal defence towers, built in the late 18th century, as well as a further image of cultural or landscape importance, images of the twelve parish crests, and with denomination worded in French and Jèrriais. The Jersey cow watermark is retained, and further security features include a see-through map of Jersey. On the £10, £20 and £50 a patch hologram showing a varying image of the coat of arms of Jersey
and the Island of Jersey on a background pattern of La Corbière lighthouse. The new designs were publicly shown for the first time on February 22, 2010.
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
. Jersey is in currency union
Currency union
A currency union is where two or more states share the same currency, though without there necessarily having any further integration such as an Economic and Monetary Union, which has in addition a customs union and a single market.There are three types of currency unions:#Informal - unilateral...
with the United Kingdom, and the Jersey pound is not a separate currency but is an issue of banknotes and coins by the States of Jersey
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
denominated in pound sterling, in a similar way to the banknotes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland (see Banknotes of the pound sterling). It can be exchanged at par with other sterling coinage and notes (see also sterling zone).
For this reason, ISO 4217
ISO 4217
ISO 4217 is a standard published by the International Standards Organization, which delineates currency designators, country codes , and references to minor units in three tables:* Table A.1 – Current currency & funds code list...
does not include a separate currency code for the Jersey pound, but where a distinct code is desired JEP is generally used.
Both Jersey and Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
notes are legal tender
Legal tender
Legal tender is a medium of payment allowed by law or recognized by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. Paper currency is a common form of legal tender in many countries....
in Jersey and circulate together, alongside the Guernsey pound
Guernsey pound
The pound is the currency of Guernsey. Since 1921, Guernsey has been in currency union with the United Kingdom and the Guernsey pound is not a separate currency but is a local issue of banknotes and coins denominated in pound sterling, in a similar way to the banknotes issued in Scotland and...
and Scottish banknotes. Although the Jersey notes are not legal tender in the United Kingdom, creditors and traders may accept them if they so choose.
History
Jersey livre
The livre was currency of Jersey until 1834. It consisted entirely of French coins.Until the 1720s, the currency used was the French livre, subdivided into 20 sous, each of 12 deniers. The commonest coin in circulation was the liard...
was the currency of Jersey until 1834. It consisted of French coins which, in the early 19th century, were exchangeable for sterling
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
at a rate of 26 livres = 1 pound. After the livre was replaced by the franc
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
in France in 1795, the supply of coins in Jersey dwindled leading to difficulties in trade and payment. In 1834, an Order in Council adopted the pound sterling as Jersey's sole official legal tender, although French copper coins continued to circulate alongside British silver coins, with 26 sous equal to the shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
. Because the sous remained the chief small-change coins, when a new copper coinage was issued for Jersey in 1841, it was based on a penny worth of a shilling, the equivalent of 2 sous. This system continued until 1877, when a penny of of a shilling was introduced.
Along with the rest of the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, Jersey decimalized in 1971 and began issuing a full series of circulating coins from ½p to 50p. £1 and £2 denominations followed later.
As of December 2005, there was £64.7m of Jersey currency in circulation. A profit of £2.8m earned on the issue of Jersey currency was received by the Treasurer of the States in 2005.
Coins
In 1841, copper , and shilling coins were introduced, followed by bronze and shilling in 1866. In 1877, with the switch to 12 pence to the shilling, bronze , and shilling were introduced. This was the only issue of the shilling denomination. In 1957, a nickel-brass 3 pence coin was introduced carrying the denomination "one fourth of a shilling". The 1957 and 1960 issues were round, with a dodecagonal version introduced in 1964.In 1968, 5 and 10 pence coins were introduced, followed by 50 pence in 1969 and ½, 1 and 2 pence in 1971 when decimalization took place. All had the same composition and size as the corresponding British coins. A 20 pence coin was introduced in 1982, followed by a 1 pound coin in 1983 and 2 pounds in 1998. The ½ penny coin was last minted in 1981. The 1 and 2 pounds coins are not commonly encountered.
Banknotes
In 1797 Hugh Godfray and Company, a wine merchant, opened Jersey's first bank (later called the Jersey Old Bank) and issued £1 notes. Due to the shortage of livre tournois coinage, individuals and companies issued a large number of low value notes until in 1813 the States laid down that notes had to have a minimum value of £1. Until 1831, a large number of bodies and individuals in Jersey issued their own banknotes. The parishes of JerseyParishes of Jersey
The Channel Island of Jersey is divided into twelve administrative districts or parishes. All have access to the sea and are named after the saints to whom their ancient parish churches are dedicated.:* Saint Helier...
issued notes, as did the Vingtaine de la Ville
Vingtaine de la Ville
The Vingtaine de la Ville is one of the six vingtaines of Saint Helier in Jersey, and roughly corresponds to the historic town centre and harbours...
. Legislation in 1831 attempted to regulate such issues by requiring note issuers to be backed by two guarantors, but the parishes and the Vingtaine de la Ville were exempted from the regulatory provisions. Most of the notes were 1 pound denominations, although at least one 5 pound issue was made. These locally produced notes, which were often issued to fund public works, ceased to be issued after the 1890s.
During the German occupation in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a shortage of coinage (partly caused by occupying troops taking away coins as souvenirs) led to the passing of the Currency Notes (Jersey) Law on 29 April 1941. A series of 2 shilling notes (blue lettering on orange paper) were issued. The law was amended on 29 November 1941 to provide for further issues of notes of various denominations, and a series of banknotes designed by Edmund Blampied
Edmund Blampied
Edmund Blampied was one of the most eminent artists to come from the Channel Islands, yet he received no formal training in art until he was 16 years old...
was issued by the States of Jersey in denominations of 6 pence, 1, 2 and 10 shillings, and 1 pound. The six pence note was designed by Blampied in such a way that the wording of the word six on the reverse incorporated an outsized "X" so that when the note was folded, the result was the resistance
Resistance during World War II
Resistance movements during World War II occurred in every occupied country by a variety of means, ranging from non-cooperation, disinformation and propaganda to hiding crashed pilots and even to outright warfare and the recapturing of towns...
symbol "V" for victory
V sign
The V sign is a hand gesture in which the index and middle fingers are raised and parted, while the other fingers are clenched. It has various meanings, depending on the cultural context and how it is presented...
.
| Denomination | Colour | Reverse design |
|---|---|---|
| 6 pence | Red | wording six pence |
| 1 shilling | Brown | silhouette of two characters in conversation |
| 2 shillings | Blue | horse wagon |
| 10 shillings | Green | farm girl and Jersey cattle |
| 1 pound | Purple | vraicing Seaweed fertiliser Seaweed fertiliser, also spelt seaweed fertilizer, several of the 12,000+ varieties in the ocean have been shown to be valuable additions to the organic garden and can be abundantly available free for those living near the coast... scene |
At Liberation in May 1945, the States stopped issuing notes.
1963 issue
The States have issued a regular series of banknotes since 1963. The first issue consisted on denominations of 10 shillings, 1 and 5 pounds, with 10 pound notes introduced in 1972.| Denomination | Colour | Reverse design |
|---|---|---|
| 10 shillings | Brown | Saint Ouen's Manor |
| 1 pound | Green | Mont Orgueil Mont Orgueil Mont Orgueil is a castle in Jersey. It is located overlooking the harbour of Gorey. It is also called Gorey Castle by English-speakers, and lé Vièr Châté by Jèrriais-speakers.... |
| 5 pounds | Red | Saint Aubin Saint Aubin, Jersey Saint Aubin is a port in the Channel Island of Jersey. It opens out to a bay of the Gulf of Saint-Malo.Originally a fishing village at the opposite end of Saint Aubin's Bay from the town of Saint Helier, Saint Aubin is now the hub of the parish of St. Brelade. Its name refers to Saint Aubin of... 's Fort |
| 10 pounds | Purple | Saint Ouen's Manor |
1976 issue
A new series of notes came into circulation on 5 August 1976. The new portrait of the Queen was based on a photograph by Anthony Buckley. The reverse featured historic images of Jersey, with Jersey flora forming part of the design of the obverse. The size of the notes was reduced in line with international trends. 20 pound notes were introduced in 1976.| Denomination | Colour | Obverse design | Reverse design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pound | Blue | Queen Elizabeth II; Jersey buttercup | The Death of Major Pierson, Battle of Jersey Battle of Jersey The Battle of Jersey was an attempt by France to invade Jersey and remove the threat the island posed to American shipping in the American War of Independence. Jersey was used as a base for privateering by the British, and France, engaged in the war as an ally of the United States, sent an... , 1781 |
| 5 pounds | Brown | Queen Elizabeth II; Jersey fern | Elizabeth Castle Elizabeth Castle Elizabeth Castle is a castle in Saint Helier, Jersey. Construction was started in the 16th century when the power of cannon meant that the existing stronghold at Mont Orgueil was insufficient to defend the Island and the port of St. Helier was vulnerable to attack by ships armed with... , by George Wolfe |
| 10 pounds | Green | Queen Elizabeth II; wild daffodils | Victoria College Victoria College, Jersey Victoria College is a fee paying States of Jersey-provided school in membership of the HMC, in St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. The castellated neo-gothic architecture is a landmark overlooking the town.-History:In the 1590s, Laurens Baudains - a wealthy farmer from St... , by Félix Benoist |
| 20 pounds | Red | Queen Elizabeth II; burnet rose | Mont Orgueil, by Jean Le Capelain |
1989 issue
50 pound notes were introduced in 1989. The current notes depict Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and various landmarks of Jersey or incidents in Jersey history on the reverse. The watermark is a Jersey cowJersey cattle
Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
. Despite the introduction of a 1 pound coin, the 1 pound note continues to circulate.
| Denomination | Colour | Reverse design |
|---|---|---|
| 1 pound | Green | St. Helier Parish Church Parish Church of St Helier The Parish Church of St Helier is the parish church of the parish of Saint Helier, Jersey. It is one of the twelve 'Ancient Parish Churches' of Jersey, and serves as the Island's civic church and Pro-Cathedral.-Dedication:... |
| 5 pounds | Purple | La Corbière La Corbière La Corbière is the extreme south-western point of Jersey in St. Brelade. The name means "a place where crows gather", deriving from the word corbîn meaning crow... lighthouse Lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.... |
| 10 pounds | Red | The Death of Major Pierson, Battle of Jersey Battle of Jersey The Battle of Jersey was an attempt by France to invade Jersey and remove the threat the island posed to American shipping in the American War of Independence. Jersey was used as a base for privateering by the British, and France, engaged in the war as an ally of the United States, sent an... , 1781 |
| 20 pounds | Blue | St. Ouen Saint Ouen, Jersey -Cueillettes:Unlike the other parishes of Jersey, the subdivisions of this parish are not named vingtaines, but cueillettes . Vingteniers are still elected, however, in the cueillettes.*La Petite Cueillette*La Grande Cueillette... 's manor |
| 50 pounds | Brown | Government House |
Commemorative issues
Jersey has issued two commemorative £1 banknotes. In 1995 a special issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of Liberation of Jersey was issued. The front side is slightly different from the standard design with the serial number starting "LJ" standing for "Liberation of Jersey" and a map of Jersey printed in optically variable ink. On the reverse is an entirely different design from the standard one pound note, featuring the one pound note issued during the Occupation of JerseyOccupation of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for much of World War II, from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. The Channel Islands are two British Crown dependencies and include the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey as well as the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark...
.
In 2004, a special edition £1 note was introduced in general circulation alongside the St. Helier Parish Church note; this commemorative note marks the 800th anniversary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of the division of the Duchy of Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
in 1204 and the design consequently includes Mont Orgueil
Mont Orgueil
Mont Orgueil is a castle in Jersey. It is located overlooking the harbour of Gorey. It is also called Gorey Castle by English-speakers, and lé Vièr Châté by Jèrriais-speakers....
castle and other historic symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
s. It has serial number with prefix "J8C" which stands for "Jersey 800".
In 2012, a £100 note will be issued to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is the forthcoming international celebration in 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952...
.
2010 issue
On 26 April 2010 a new set of Jersey banknotes was issued. The notes are trilingual, containing text in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
Jersey Legal French
Jersey Legal French, also known as Jersey French, is the official dialect of French used administratively in Jersey. Since the anglicisation of the island, it survives as a written language for some laws, contracts, and other documents. Jersey's parliament, the States of Jersey, is part of the...
and Jèrriais
Jèrriais
Jèrriais is the form of the Norman language spoken in Jersey, in the Channel Islands, off the coast of France. It has been in decline over the past century as English has increasingly become the language of education, commerce and administration...
. A £100 note will be added to the series and released later in 2010 after the other denominations have entered circulation.
The obverse of the new notes includes a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II based on a photograph by Mark Lawrence, alongside a view of an important Jersey landmark, with text in English. The reverse of each note includes an image of one of Jersey's numerous historic coastal defence towers, built in the late 18th century, as well as a further image of cultural or landscape importance, images of the twelve parish crests, and with denomination worded in French and Jèrriais. The Jersey cow watermark is retained, and further security features include a see-through map of Jersey. On the £10, £20 and £50 a patch hologram showing a varying image of the coat of arms of Jersey
Coat of arms of Jersey
The coat of arms of Jersey is a red shield with three gold lions passant guardant . It derives from the seal granted to the island’s bailiff by Edward I in 1279. In 1907, Edward VII sanctioned the claimed usage by the island of the arms. It is very similar to the arms of Normandy, Guernsey and...
and the Island of Jersey on a background pattern of La Corbière lighthouse. The new designs were publicly shown for the first time on February 22, 2010.
| Denomination | Colour | Obverse design | Reverse design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pound | Green | Queen Elizabeth II; Liberation Sculpture in Saint Helier | Le Hocq Le Hocq Le Hocq is an area found in the parish of St. Clement, in the south-east of Jersey, Channel Islands.Le Hocq is a Jèrriais name, and means 'the headland' or 'the cape' in English. It is in fact the area surrounding a small headland... Tower; La Hougue Bie La Hougue Bie La Hougue Bie is a historic site in the Parish of Grouville, Jersey. Hougue is a Jèrriais/Norman language word meaning a "mound" and comes from the Old Norse word haugr. Bie is of uncertain origin... |
| 5 pounds | Sky blue | Queen Elizabeth II; Le Rât Cottage | Archirondel Tower; Les Augrès Manor Les Augrès Manor Les Augrès Manor is a 16th century manor house in the parish of Trinity in Jersey, on the road La Profonde Rue.The grounds of the manor has been home to the Jersey Zoo since 1958, and the manor house itself home to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1963... |
| 10 pounds | Burnt Sienna | Queen Elizabeth II; Hermitage of Saint Helier Helier Saint Helier, a 6th century ascetic hermit, is patron saint of Jersey in the Channel Islands, and in particular of the town and parish of Saint Helier, the island’s capital... |
Seymour Tower; Lalique René Lalique René Jules Lalique was a French glass designer known for his creations of perfume bottles, vases, jewellery, chandeliers, clocks and automobile hood ornaments. He was born in the French village of Ay on 6 April 1860 and died 5 May 1945... sculpture in the Glass Church |
| 20 pounds | Violet | Queen Elizabeth II; States Building States of Jersey The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey.... |
La Rocco Tower; States Chamber |
| 50 pounds | Red | Queen Elizabeth II; Mont Orgueil Mont Orgueil Mont Orgueil is a castle in Jersey. It is located overlooking the harbour of Gorey. It is also called Gorey Castle by English-speakers, and lé Vièr Châté by Jèrriais-speakers.... |
Tower, Ouaisné; La Marmotière, Les Écréhous Écréhous The Écréhous are a group of islands and rocks situated six miles north-east of Jersey . They form part of the Bailiwick of Jersey and are administratively part of the Parish of St... |