How Much is a 10 Shilling Note Worth? Quick Valuation Guide

Posted by: Ian • 24 Oct 2025

So, you've stumbled across an old 'ten bob' note and are wondering if you've found a hidden treasure. You might have! The value of a 10 shilling note can swing wildly, from its basic 50p face value to well over £100 for the rarest, crispest examples. For most notes that have seen a bit of life, you're likely looking at a few pounds.

It all boils down to a few key things: the note's physical condition, its issue date, and that all-important serial number. Our service offers a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to find out what your old currency is worth.

What's Your 10 Shilling Note Really Worth?

As this handy valuation guide from the Collectors Club of Great Britain shows, condition is king. A pristine, uncirculated note from a common run will always fetch a much better price than one with even a few light folds or signs of wear.

The 10 shilling note was a real workhorse of British currency for decades. First issued by the Bank of England way back in 1928, it was worth half a pound sterling. It stayed in our wallets and purses until 1970, when it was finally replaced by the 50 pence coin during the UK's switch to decimal currency. If you're curious, you can discover more about the history of the ten bob note and its journey.

To give you a rough idea, here's a quick look at what you might expect.

Quick Guide to 10 Shilling Note Values

This table offers a simplified snapshot of potential values, helping you get a ballpark figure for your note based on its condition and general era.

Condition	Common Series (Post-1950s)	Older or Rarer Series (e.g., Wartime)
Mint/Uncirculated	£15 – £50+	£60 – £100+
Very Good/Fine	£5 – £15	£20 – £60
Worn/Poor	50p – £2	£5 – £20

Remember, this is just a guide! Unique features like special serial numbers can push the value much higher.

The Details That Drive the Value Up

Figuring out the exact value means playing detective and looking beyond just the date printed on the note. A combination of factors determines whether you're holding onto a common keepsake or a genuine collectible.

Condition: It’s the number one rule in collecting. A crisp, clean note that looks like it just left the printer is always going to be worth more than a crumpled, torn, or stained one. Simple as that.
Chief Cashier's Signature: This is a great tip for spotting a rarer note. Some Chief Cashiers had much shorter tenures than others, meaning fewer notes bear their signature. These can be highly sought after.
Serial Number: Look for early serial numbers (like A01), special prefixes, or interesting patterns. These little details can make a massive difference to a collector and significantly boost a note's desirability.

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If you've found a 10 shilling note tucked away with other leftover foreign currency or a big jar of unsorted coins, our service is the perfect, hassle-free solution. A practical tip is not to worry about sorting it—just send it all to us.

Whether you want to exchange foreign coins and notes or donate foreign coins to charity, we offer a simple, credible way to turn them into cash. Find out how to exchange your currency at We Buy All Currency today.

The Story Behind the Ten Bob Note

Every old banknote has a story, and the 10 shilling note is no different. Digging into its past is the first step in figuring out what a 10 shilling note is worth today. You'll quickly find that certain issues are far more sought-after than others.

The note's history has a fascinating chapter rooted in World War I. Between 1914 and 1918, the British government took the unusual step of issuing the 10 shilling note directly. At the time, the war had thrown the nation's finances into chaos, and these "Treasury notes" were a way to stabilise the economy.

It was the first time the government, rather than the Bank of England, issued paper money to the public. You can read a bit more about these historic wartime Treasury notes and their history.

From Wartime Necessity to Daily Staple

Those early wartime notes are now prized by collectors, thanks to their historical importance and relative rarity. The later versions, especially the ones featuring a young Queen Elizabeth II, became a common sight in pockets and purses across the UK right up until decimalisation.

Thinking about what "ten bob" could get you back then really paints a picture of a different time. This real-world insight shows that in the 1960s, ten shillings was a decent amount of money. It could buy you:

Six pints of beer
Ten loaves of bread
A cinema ticket with some change left over

This context is key. It helps explain why these notes are now collectibles and not just obsolete currency. It's a bit like finding out the value of old coins; the story behind the note is where the appraisal begins. If you're also curious about coins from the same period, have a look at our guide on pre-decimal coin values.

Identifying whether your note is a common keepsake or a rare find begins with its history. A note issued during a time of national crisis or featuring a short-lived design will almost always command a higher price.

This historical backdrop is crucial when you try to convert foreign coins and banknotes, or any other obsolete currency. Our fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed service takes the hassle out of this process. Trusted by major brands including charities, supermarkets, airports, and police forces, we make it simple to get cash for your leftover foreign currency.

How to Judge Your Note's Condition

When it comes to figuring out how much a 10 shilling note is worth, one thing matters more than anything else: its condition. A crisp, uncirculated note that looks like it just rolled off the printing press can be worth hundreds of times more than one that’s been folded, torn, or stained.

Learning to grade your own note is the first, and most important, step towards getting an accurate valuation. Collectors have a specific language for describing quality, from perfect down to poor. Getting familiar with these terms will help you know what you're holding. A 'Very Fine' note, for instance, might have a couple of light folds but still feels crisp, while a 'Good' note has clearly been around the block and shows significant wear.

Helpful Advice on Examining Your Note

To get a good idea of your note's grade, you need to look at it closely. Find a spot with good lighting and examine it for any signs of wear and tear.

Here’s what you should be paying close attention to:

Folds and Creases: Are there any folds? A single crease down the middle is common, but multiple heavy folds that have broken the paper's fibres are a major issue. A note with zero folds is the gold standard.
Paper Quality and Colour: Does the paper still feel firm and new, or is it soft and limp? Look at the colours—are they still bright and vibrant, or have they faded over time?
Corners and Edges: Sharp, clean corners are what you want to see. If the corners are rounded or the edges look frayed, it’s a clear sign the note has been handled a lot.
Damage: Look for absolutely any damage. This includes pinholes, writing, stains, or tears. Even something that seems tiny can drastically bring down the value.

A common mistake I see people make is glossing over the small details. A single pinhole or a faint pencil mark might not seem like a big deal, but to a serious collector, it can be the difference between a high-grade and a mid-grade note. That difference is reflected directly in the price.

This focus on condition isn’t just for 10 shilling notes; it’s crucial for all old currency. You can see more examples of how condition impacts value in our guide on the value of old 5 pound notes.

Spotting the Details That Add Real Value

Okay, so you've figured out the general condition of your note. But the physical state is only half the story. The real excitement for collectors often lies in the finer details—the little things that can turn a common ten bob note into something genuinely special.

Two of the most critical features to check are the signature of the Chief Cashier and the serial number.

Think about it: a Chief Cashier who had a very short term in office would have signed far fewer banknotes. That automatically makes any surviving notes with their signature much scarcer and, therefore, more desirable. Likewise, the serial number can be a game-changer. Look out for very early numbers, like A01, or special replacement notes. These were printed to replace damaged notes during production and are often marked with a unique prefix, making them highly sought-after.

This infographic gives you a quick visual rundown to help place your note in the right condition category at a glance.

As you can see, a crisp, uncirculated note with no folds or blemishes is always going to be the top prize. That's your starting point for figuring out its maximum potential value.

Errors and A Glimpse into the Past

Here's where things can get really interesting. Printing errors are the wild cards of currency collecting. While rare, a mistake during production can massively increase a note's value. Keep an eye out for anything unusual:

Misaligned printing
Incorrect colours
Missing design elements

A simple printing slip-up can transform an otherwise ordinary note into a collector's dream find.

It’s also fascinating to remember what this note represented back in its day. As a real-world insight, in the early 1960s, your 'ten bob' note had serious buying power. It could get you six pints of beer or seventeen pints of milk! That gives it a modern purchasing power of around £22–£25. To get a real feel for its place in British history, it's well worth reading up on the fascinating history of the ten bob note.

At We Buy All Currency, our expertise makes it easy to exchange foreign coins and notes. Our process is fast, hassle-free, and 100% guaranteed. Trusted by major UK brands, including charities and airports, we offer a credible and straightforward way to handle your leftover foreign currency.

Easily Exchange Your Old Currency for Cash

So, you've got a good idea of what your 10 shilling note might be worth. What now? Trying to sell it to collectors can be a slow and frustrating game. We offer a much simpler alternative: a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to turn that old note into cash.

Our service is designed to be as simple as possible. Whether you have a single 'ten bob' note or a whole box of old money, our 100% guaranteed service is the answer. A helpful piece of advice is to forget spending hours sorting through jars of mixed coins or trying to figure out what to do with leftover holiday cash. With us, you don't need to sort a thing.

Our Simple, Guaranteed Process

We make it dead simple to exchange foreign coins and notes. Just pack everything up—your 10 shilling note, that handful of old French francs, those leftover US dollars—and pop it in the post to us. We take care of everything else.

Our process is 100% guaranteed, giving you total peace of mind. We're proud to be a trusted partner for some of the biggest names in the UK, including major charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces. That kind of trust is built on years of reliable service and being completely upfront with our customers.

We believe turning old money into cash shouldn't be a headache. Our goal is to give you a secure, fast, and easy way to unlock its value, cutting out all the usual hassle.

More Than Just Old Banknotes

Our service isn't just for one type of currency. We help you convert foreign coins and banknotes of all kinds into cash. This is a practical tip for anyone with mixed currency.

Leftover Holiday Money: Don’t let those foreign coins and notes from past trips gather dust.
Obsolete Currencies: We accept old pre-Euro currencies like German Deutsche Marks and Spanish Pesetas.
Old British Money: From old pre-decimal coins to withdrawn banknotes, we accept it all.

This all-in-one approach is perfect if you’ve inherited a mixed collection or are just having a clear-out. If you'd like to learn more about turning old paper money into spendable cash, take a look at our guide to exchanging old Bank of England notes.

Ready to get started? Our fast, easy, and hassle-free service is just a few clicks away. Visit our homepage to turn your old and foreign currency into cash today.

Your 10 Shilling Note Questions Answered

Got questions about your old 'ten bob' notes? You're not alone. We get asked all the time about how to value them and what our easy exchange process looks like. Here are some straightforward answers to the most common queries we see.

Is My 10 Shilling Note Actually Worth Anything?

Honestly, probably not a fortune. The vast majority of 10 shilling notes we see, especially the common ones from the 1960s that have been folded and passed around, are usually only worth a few pounds.

The big money you read about online? That’s reserved for the real rarities. We're talking about notes in perfect, crisp uncirculated condition, those with unusual or sought-after serial numbers, or the much older issues like the Treasury notes from World War I. At the end of the day, condition is the single biggest factor that determines what your 10 shilling note is worth.

Can I Just Take It to the Bank?

Unfortunately, no. High-street banks stopped accepting 10 shilling notes decades ago after they were officially withdrawn in 1970. While you might be able to exchange certain old notes directly with the Bank of England, it’s often a slow and fiddly process.

A much simpler route is to use a specialist currency exchange service. It's a far quicker and more direct way to turn your obsolete banknotes and any leftover foreign currency into actual cash.

Our service is designed to be fast, easy, and completely hassle-free—and it’s 100% guaranteed. We’re trusted by major brands you’ll recognise, including well-known charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces, so you know you’re in safe hands.

I’ve Got a Whole Mix of Old Coins and Notes. What Do I Do?

This is exactly what our service was built for. If you've got a jumble of old British notes, some leftover holiday money, and a bag of mixed foreign coins, our practical advice is not to waste your time trying to sort it all out yourself.

Our hassle-free process means you can just send it all to us in one go. There is no need to sort your coins and notes.

We take care of all the identification and valuation, which saves you a massive amount of time and effort. You can even choose to donate foreign coins to charity right through our service, turning that forgotten change into something that makes a real difference. It’s the perfect way to exchange foreign coins and notes without any of the usual stress.

Ready to turn your old money into cash? We Buy All Currency offers a fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed way to exchange your foreign coins and banknotes. Our service is trusted by major UK brands. There's no need to sort your coins, just send them to us for a hassle-free exchange. Visit our homepage at https://www.webuyallcurrency.com to get started today