“Operation Bernhard” Genuine Counterfeit Peppiatt £10 Bank Note

Original wartime counterfeit £10 bank note with the batch K159 and newly discovered serial code 96335. (Serial number 96 only now has been confirmed as one of the counterfeit numbers). The note shows the typical signs of a “Operation Bernhard” counterfeit. Notably the unconnected print line in the hook of the Britannia, the poor facial features, the lack of an earring and uneven spheres of ink around the “Ten” in the bottom left corner. The bank note is fresh to the market and is ungraded. The paper is in fairly good shape considering its age.

Operation Bernhard, a little-known facet of World War II, was a meticulously orchestrated counterfeit currency operation undertaken by Nazi Germany.
Led by SS Major Bernhard Krüger, the operation utilised skilled inmates within the confines of Sachsenhausen concentration camp to replicate British pound banknotes with remarkable precision.
The objective was to flood the British economy with counterfeit money, causing economic disruption and eroding confidence in the financial system.
While the operation did manage to introduce a significant number of fake banknotes into circulation, the impact was limited by the vigilance of British authorities, who employed diligent measures to identify and remove the forgeries.
Operation Bernhard remains a historical example of the lengths to which wartime adversaries are willing to go in pursuit of strategic advantage, highlighting the intersection of creativity and malice within the complex tapestry of war.

This banknote has been confirmed as an original period made counterfeit by a leading specialist in UK banknotes. More details can be provided on buyers request.

Code: 1104