About the note
This note’s portrait is of Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The engraving is by Harry P. Dawson of British American Bank Note Company after a photograph taken by Richard Speaight—best known as a photographer of children. In the First World War, Princess Mary was involved in nursing, both as a nurse and as a patron. She later became a highly active patron of the Girl Guides as well as other organizations promoting the advancement of women and girls.
The vignette on the back, also engraved by Dawson, is the harvest. It is one of several allegories in this series representing agriculture. The horn of plenty, or cornucopia, behind the figure is a symbol rooted in Greek mythology. The god Zeus gave a goat’s horn the ability to endlessly fill and refill with food and drink. Now the horn of plenty is generally a harvest symbol.
At a glance
- Portrait: Princess Mary
- Date of issue: March 11, 1935
- Last day of issue: January 2, 1937
- Signatures:
- Deputy Governor John A. C. Osborne
- Governor Graham F. Towers
- Dimensions: 15.1 cm x 7.3 cm
- Design: British American Bank Note Company Ltd.
- Printer: British American Bank Note Company Ltd.
- Status: legal tender
