North Africa Yellow Seal Notes

Why yellow seals?

In September 1942 the War Department and the Treasury planned a special currency for the Allied landings in North Africa. If the operation failed and large amounts of money fell into enemy hands, the government wanted to be able to cancel it without affecting the dollars in everyone's pockets at home. A distinct seal color made that possible. The notes are regular silver certificates in every other respect, with the seal printed in yellow instead of blue.

The approach mirrored what was done in Hawaii, where notes with brown seals and a HAWAII overprint served the same purpose in the Pacific.

North Africa yellow seal silver certificates

Where the notes were used

The first use came with Operation Torch on November 8, 1942. The notes were legal tender there only until the end of that year and were then withdrawn as francs became available. They came back for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky, which began on July 10, 1943. They were declared legal tender there by proclamation later that month.

After that they served as transit money for troops moving between theaters and the United States. They also saw use in several countries in southeastern Europe. They were not used for the Normandy landings, where Allied military franc notes were issued instead. The last yellow seal notes were printed in June 1944.

How to check a yellow seal note

Start with the seal. It should be a clean, bright yellow, printed as sharply as the rest of the note. The serial numbers stay blue, the same blue used on ordinary silver certificates. If the serials are yellow, or the seal looks blotchy, stained or uneven, be suspicious and have the note examined.

Next, confirm the series. The $1 must be Series 1935A, the $5 Series 1934A and the $10 Series 1934A or 1934. All carry the signatures of W. A. Julian and Henry Morgenthau Jr. A yellow seal on any other series or denomination is not a genuine North Africa note.

The scarce $10 Series 1934

Most yellow seal tens are Series 1934A. A smaller group was printed with Series 1934 face plates in a mule combination. It falls within the B serial range used for the 1943 to 1944 printings. One estimate puts that group at roughly 45,000 to 51,000 notes. It is much scarcer than the 1934A and is the one to look for if you have a yellow seal ten.

Star notes

Replacement notes with a star before the serial number were printed for all three denominations. They are far scarcer than regular yellow seal notes. A star North Africa note in any grade belongs in a higher band than a regular one. Crisp star notes are prized by collectors of World War II currency.

What a North Africa note is worth

Every genuine yellow seal note carries a collector premium, even worn. The $1 is the most common and sits at the lower end of that band. The $5 and $10 1934A carry somewhat larger premiums in comparable condition. The $10 Series 1934 mule and the star notes move into higher bands. Uncirculated examples of any denomination are worth substantially more than worn ones. As always, tears, stains and repairs pull value down.

What to do with one

Sleeve the note in an archival holder and keep it flat. Note the denomination, the series and whether there is a star. If it came home with a relative who served in North Africa or Italy, write down what you know and keep it with the note. For a $10 Series 1934, any star note or any crisp note, ask a paper money dealer or a grading service to confirm authenticity and grade before you decide what to do. Like other silver certificates, these notes are still legal tender, so there is no rush and no reason to spend one.

Frequently asked questions