20 Shillings 1962, East Africa
| in Krause book | Number: 43b |
| Years of issue: | 1961 - 1963 |
| Edition: | 8 888 668 |
| Signatures: | Mr. Amishadai Larson Adu, Mr. John Henry Butler, Mr. Colin de Neufville Hill, Mr. Craig Reid Cantlie Donald, Mr. Thomas Oates, Mr. Geoffrey Charles Lawrence, Mr. John Barraclough de Loynes |
| Serie: | 1961 - 1963 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 1958 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 150 х 87 |
| Printer: | TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), Nairobi |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Head of the lion (from the Emblem of East Africa)
Avers:
HM The Queen Elizabeth II.
The first official photographic sitting with the new Queen was granted to the society photographer Dorothy Wilding. It took place on 26 February 1952, just twenty days after the accession. A total of fifty-nine photographs were taken by Wilding, showing The Queen dressed in a variety of gowns designed by Norman Hartnell and wearing jewellery including the Diamond Diadem. The photographs taken during this sitting were the basis of The Queen’s image on postage stamps from 1953 until 1971, as well as providing the official portrait of The Queen which was sent to every British embassy throughout the world. (Royal collection trust)
The Queen is wearing the George IV State Diadem. Made by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell (and likely designed by their designer, Philip Liebart) in 1820, the diadem features a set of 4 crosses pattée alternating with 4 bouquets of roses, thistles, and shamrocks. The motifs are set on a band of diamond scrollwork between two bands of pearls. Queen Alexandra had the diadem made smaller in 1902, reducing the top band of pearls from 86 to 81, and the bottom band from 94 to 88. The front cross is set with a 4 carat yellow diamond, and the piece features 1,333 diamonds in all. (Sartorial Splendor)
The necklace worn by The Queen, of diamond flowers and leaves, was a wedding present from Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar. The necklace was originally crafted in 1930s by Cartier. It was a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II, who was still a princess, on her wedding to Prince Philip from the Last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1947. The Nizam of Hyderabad asked the Queen to choose two pieces from Cartier to mark her wedding, and she chose a tiara and a matching necklace based on an English rose.
The necklace was made by Cartier with 38 diamonds, with a diamond-encrusted snap. It has a detachable double-drop pendant, made of 13 emerald-cut diamonds and a pear-shaped drop, forms the pave-set center of the necklace. The design was based on English roses. 
Pair of pearl drop earrings, made circa 1947.
The pearls used to create these earrings were a wedding present to Princess Elizabeth in 1947 from the Sheikh of Bahrain. The diamonds used in the earrings use a variety of modern cuts. (A Royal Wedding 1947)
In these portraits she is woman first and Queen second. However, the beauty of Her Majesty in these images has been enhanced by the engraver. The original portrait, while very flattering, represents Her Majesty in a more regal aspect and with, perhaps, less distinct facial features. (Peter Symes)
Denominations are in all corners in numerals. In Top left corner in Arabic language (Indian state Hyderabad), in bottom right corner in Gujarati language.
In the middle in words.
Revers:
Right and left are the Pyrethrum daisies.
Pyrethrum was a genus of several Old World plants now classified as Chrysanthemum or Tanacetum (e.g., C. coccineum) which are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flower heads. Pyrethrum continues to be used as a common name for plants formerly included in the genus Pyrethrum.
Top in the middle is Coffea arabica.
Coffea arabica is a species of Coffea originally indigenous to the mountains of the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. It is also known as the "coffee shrub of Arabia", "mountain coffee" or "arabica coffee". Coffea arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in southwest Ethiopia for well over 1,000 years. Arabica coffee production in Indonesia began in 1699. Indonesian coffees, such as Sumatran and Java, are known for heavy body and low acidity. This makes them ideal for blending with the higher acidity coffees from Central America and East Africa. One of the major crops in Kenya.
Denominations are in all corners in numerals. In the middle in words.
Comments:
Probably every banknote has its own interesting history. You never know, what kind of people owned it, where it traveled and etc...
The history of this note I got from her former owner, a military retiree from the U.S., who now lives in Florida.
Here's what he said:
"Hello. You were interested in the adventures of the 20 shilling note, so I will expand on its subsequent history.
Leaving Mombasa we made a port call at Aden, Saudi Arabia (Now Yemen). The ship was visited by the, then, Shah of Iran. Then back through the Malacca Straits and take up station in the South China Sea (Vietnam War Era). The banknote flew off the aircraft carrier, at sea, with me, to land at Subic Bay, in the Philippines. After a wait (several weeks) we boarded a C-130 Hercules to return to San Francisco with 30 hours flight time making stops at Wake Islands, Midway Island, Guam, and the Hawaiian Islands. The banknote also travelled with me in my personal effects to Virginia, New Mexico, Cornwall (England), Mississippi, and finished my Naval Career with me at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After discharge it resided with me in Montana, Indiana, and finally to Florida. So when you consider the miles on both the banknote and me, we both look pretty good. Thought this info would give you a chuckle.
Best Regards."
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