Так это было давно....
2 октября 2008 года.
Вот текст, который у меня в файле, и картинка.
The U.S. gave the huge loan to the Bank of England in a bid to prop up the ailing economy at the time.
The nine £1 million notes were shared around the financial institutions and were used to loan money against.
The deal has startling similarities to today's global financial crisis, except in this case the bank had to pay the money back.
Although the notes -
numbered 000001 to 000009 - were cancelled just two months later in October 1948, Britain has only recently finished repaying the debt.
Seven of the notes were destroyed while the other two were given as mementos to the respective US and British Treasury secretaries at the time.
One of them is now owned by businessman Bill Parkinson who has spent 50 years amassing a stunning collection of 253 vintage bank notes which he is now selling.
'It was issued in connection with the Marshall Aid plan after World War Two and was intended for internal use between financial institutions as a way of tracking money.
'The notes were in use for only a period of six weeks and were not meant for public circulation.
'It is one of the rarest examples of British currency around today and is the highest denomination note.'
The one million pounds note, which is green and eight-inches wide, is a Treasury note issued on August 30, 1948.
Printed on it is the wording: 'This Treasury note entitles the Bank of England to payment of one million pounds on demand out of the consolidated fund of the United Kingdom.'
There is also a stamp mark on it showing the date of October 6, 1948 which was when the note was cancelled.
Britain wasn't alone in receiving funds under the Marshall Aid plan.
From 1948 to 1951 the US loaned seven billion pounds - about 100 billion pounds in today's money - to western European countries.
The US was happy to loan the money at the time as it took the view that a
strong western Europe was needed to act as a buffer to contain the rise of communism in Russia.
The second one million pound note was sold by Spink auctions about 20 years ago to another private collector.
The sale will take place at Spink's auction house in Bloomsbury.Do what you like. Like what you do !
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