The first banknotes issued by the ZAR Government during the Boer War were emergency notes dated 28.5.1900 essentially for the payment of Boer Government officials and military supplies. They were issued At PRETORIA under ZAR Law No.1 which the British repudiated immediately (proclamation No.8) saying they would not be recognised except as evidence of war losses. The British later relented and honoured notes passed by the Central Judicial Commission.

They did not circulate long in Pretoria. Ten days later on June 5 1900 the British marched through the capital town with their bayonets fixed and the Boers elected not to engage in a pitched battle and retired to Machadodorp and then to Pietersburg (where a second issue of notes was made).

All Pretoria notes were hand-signed by J.S. Marais, auditor-General, and N.S.Malherbe, Treasurer General. The wording on the front of the notes reads: "The Government of the South African republic promises to pay the bearer of this note £100 pound sterling, according to law No.1, 1900, of which articles 2 and 3 are printed on the reverse of this note. This note is guaranteed by all fixed properties of the State as defined in Law No.1"

The reverse shows that there was an element of gamble about redemption - but also a six per cent interest per annum. It reads: Article 2. These notes will have a fixed rate until they are redeemed; their redemption will be conducted by means of a draw, the details of which will be made known later, and will commence on 1st June 1901, when a sum of £100,000 sterling will be redeemed, which will be repeated on the 1st June each year with an amount of £100,000 sterling until the total amount is redeemed. As soon as a note is taken out of circulation and repaid, it will be destroyed by the Treasurer General and Auditor General in the presence of two people appointed by the Government. Article 3. These notes will bear an interest rate of six per cent per annum, payable to the holder in cash every first of June, for the previous year, at the office of the Treasurer General or at a bank appointed by proclamation."

The highest number recorded on these £100 notes is 765 which indicates a probable total printing of only 800.

At the surrender negotiations at Vereeniging on May 15 1902 Lord Kitchener and his team met with General J.C.Smuts (later to fight with great success for the British) and Generals C.R. de Wet, Louis Botha, and others. There it was agreed to redeem notes accepted as genuinely issued by the Central Judicial Commission, whose stamp would be applied to the notes if they met the terms of the ZAR Law No.1 and the holder had given due value for them. But no interest would be paid.

We can offer £100 notes dated 28.5.1900 containing the Central Judicial Commission stamp and Number, Pick 47 A/UNC £325

For more informaion we strongly recommend "PAPER CURRENCY OF THE ANGLOBOER WAR 1899 - 1902" By John Ineson published 1999. Over 100 pages of colour pictures and many long forgotten or unpublished pictures of the Boer War. All paper issues from soup coupons, siege notes, stamp-money and Boer notes are fully detailed with historical notes. We can supply at £15 + Postage and packing £2.50

John Ineson spent many years researching the history of the paper money of the Boer War and this Book contains much new information for collectors.