Lot 3231

Description

Great Britain, Bank of England, five pounds, 12 March 1936, A/294 54348; twenty pounds, 15 Decr 1931, 45/M 88986 and fifty pounds, 20 June 1934, 51/N 40151 (cfP.335a, 330, 331), Operation Bernhardt forgeries. Extremely fine, the last two with tatty edges. (3)

Operation Bernhardt forgeries were almost perfect forgeries produced by prisoners in the German concentration camp Sachsenhausen during World War II. The enterprise was code named 'Operation Bernhardt'. There are a number of very small but discernable differences such as a duller look in Britannia's eyes, lighter coloured vase and less clarity on the cross of her crown.