Hawaii Overprint Notes
When Japanese forces over-ran Manila on 2 January 1942, they captured more than $20,500,000 in U.S. currency and an unknown amount of foreign currency and bullion. The U.S., fearful of a similar invasion of the Hawaiian Islands, developed an economic defense plan, replacing the normal legal tender in the Hawaiian Islands with a specially marked and easily identifiable emergency currency. The government began the distribution of this new currency in July 1942 and completed the undertaking on 15 August 1942.In case of capture, the U.S. could identify and demonetize any currencies falling into the enemy's hands. The U.S. government prohibited the circulation of regular U.S. currency in Hawaii until October 1944, when the currency restrictions to this area were revoked and the Hawaiian Islands returned to normal monetary operations.
Hawaii Overprint information:
- $1 1935A.........................................................35,052,000
- $5 1934..............................................................3,000,000
- $5 1934A...........................................................6,416,000
- $10 1934A.......................................................10,424,000
- $20 1934.....................................................(included below)
- $20 1934A......................................................11,246,000
North Africa Notes
8 November 1942, the joint British and American invasion of North Africa, Operation Torch, launched a second form of American emergency currency known as North Africa Notes. These notes had the same purpose, economic security, as their Hawaiin counterparts and U.S. Troops used these bills in the European Theater from November 1942 through September 1945.
Printers modified silver certificates, series 1934 and 1935 ($1, $5, and $10 denominations only replacing the traditional blue seal with a yellow seal. Though less distinctive, authorities could still identify North Africa currencies seized by Axis troos and declared them worthless.
- $1 1935A.........................................................26,916,000
- $5 1934A.........................................................16,660,000
- $10 1934...................................................(included below)
- $10 1934A.........................................................21,860,000
