1574 – Paper Money Siege of Leyden

I sold a ‘Marshale Hole’ note to a buyer in the USA. The note is a small card that was used during the Boer War in Matabeleland and authorised for use by Marshal Hole. The buyer is an authority on the use and creation of currency during sieges. The first use of paper money (instead of coins) was in 1574 at the siege of Layden (Netherlands) where hymnal and prayer book sheets were pasted together, cut into discs and used like coins. We know in recent times of the currency (piastres) during the siege of Khartoum and later, the siege of Mafeking. Fascinating area of banknotes interest.