Overprint - Overprints On Currency

Overprints On Currency

The design and printing of valid paper currency is rarely done hastily and overprints are extremely rare, but in times of crisis such measures have been taken. After World War I, the various successor states of the Austro-Hungarian Empire made multilingual overprints to their old Imperial currency until new notes could be designed and circulated.

Currency overprints were also used during World War II to mark all United States dollars in the Hawaiiian islands. These Hawaii overprint notes were made in case the islands were captured and the invading forces gained control of the money.

The Haitian Gourde was overprinted after the unexpectedly rapid fall of the Baby Doc Duvalier regime. The overprint consisted of a red circle with a slash across it with the date of the end of the Duvalier regime (7 February 1986) printed below in red. The brusque symbol obscured the images of Baby Doc and Papa Doc until they were replaced with images of figures from Haitian history. Something similar was done in Iran in 1979 when the Shah's picture was covered by an intricate design.

• Austria, 1919: Austro-Hungarian Imperial krone restricting circulation to the new Republic of Austria.

• USA, c.1941: US$10 bill overprinted for Hawaii.

• USA, c.1941: Reverse of US$10 bill.

• Haiti, 1986: Duvalier portrait obscured with prohibition sign.