North Africa Yellow Seal Note Value
Yellow seal notes are silver certificates printed with a gold-yellow Treasury seal instead of the usual blue, issued in 1942 and 1943 for US forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean. They served the same purpose as the Hawaii overprints: distinctive currency that could be demonetized if it fell into enemy hands.
Three denominations exist. The $1 is a 1935A series; the $5 and $10 are 1934A. All are scarcer than their blue seal counterparts and all carry a real premium.
Quick facts
- Issued
- 1942 to 1943
- Denominations
- $1 (1935A), $5 and $10 (1934A)
- Seal
- Yellow, serial numbers stay blue
- Type
- Silver Certificate
- Purpose
- Demonetizable currency for the North African campaign
North Africa Yellow Seal value by condition
| Condition | Estimated value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| $1, well worn | $30 to $60 | |
| $1, uncirculated | $150 to $400 | |
| $5, well worn | $60 to $120 | |
| $5, uncirculated | $300 to $900 | |
| $10, well worn | $100 to $250 | |
| $10, uncirculated | $700 to $2,500 |
The $10 is the key denomination. Star notes exist for all three and are considerably scarcer than the regular issues.
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Yellow seal, blue serials
The detail people miss: on a North Africa note the Treasury seal is yellow but the serial numbers stay blue. Compare that to Hawaii notes, where both the seal and the serials are brown.
That combination is a useful authenticity check. A note with a yellow seal and yellow serials is not a North Africa issue.
Where they circulated
The notes went to troops in Operation Torch and the campaigns that followed across North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. They also saw use in parts of Europe as the front moved north.
Because they were spent in active theaters and many never came home, the survival rate is low relative to the numbers printed. Circulated examples show it: heavy wear is the norm and clean high grade notes are genuinely uncommon.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my silver certificate have a yellow seal?
It is a Second World War emergency issue for the North African campaign. The distinctive seal let the Treasury void the notes if large quantities were captured.
Are yellow seal notes worth more than blue seal notes?
Considerably. A worn yellow seal $1 typically brings ten to twenty times what a blue seal $1 of the same series brings.
What is the difference between a yellow seal and a gold certificate?
Gold certificates say GOLD CERTIFICATE across the top and have gold seals and gold serial numbers. North Africa notes say SILVER CERTIFICATE, have a yellow seal, and keep blue serial numbers.