Eight Shilling Bank Note

"The bearer of this note has the right to recieve eight Shilling Banco, that have been deposited into the Bank of the Government Exchange." This is a good example of what a bank note originally was: a promissory note. The bank vouched to pay the bearer of the note a certain sum if necessary. As with all contracts one should read the small-print: "He who copies or forges this bank note will be hanged, but he who exposes the copyist, forger or utterer will be rewarded according to the Royal Decree of 8 July 1818."