Gordon began his military career with the Royal Engineers and fought in the Crimean War and in China, playing a significant role in stopping the Taiping Rebellion. He was appointed Governor of Equatoria, and then Governor-general of the Sudan. Gordon was re-appointed to the post of Governor-general in January 1884 and arrived at Khartoum on 18 February 1884, less than one month prior to the siege.
Siege of Khartoum
, self-proclaimed Mahdi, engaged in an 18-year Mahdist War against the British Empire, the Ethiopian Empire, the Congo Free State, and the Kingdom of Italy. In a series of telegrams in early March, 1884, Gordon informed the British government that the Mahdi were closing the roads, cutting off supplies and severing telegraph communications. As the fighting drew closer to the city walls, and the blockade tightened, the siege of the city of Khartoum began. Reinforcements were denied, prompting Gordon to send a telegram stating
As far as I can understand, the situation is this: you state your intention of not sending any relief up here or to Berber, and you refuse me Zebehr. I consider myself free to act according to circumstances. I shall hold on here as long as I can, and if I can suppress the rebellion I shall do so.
On 26 April 1884, Gordon issued £2,500 in notes, payable six months from issue. By the end of July, estimates between £26,000 and £50,000 had been issued. Neither representative nor fiat money, Gordon’s notes were more promissory in nature, and were personally guaranteed, with the backing of the Egyptian government. Accepted by both merchants and soldiers, the notes initially provided economic relief and trade stimulus, but had begun to depreciate by July.
Design
The siege notes are printed on card stock using a lithographic process. The text of the notes is in Arabic, with different shapes representing the various denominations. The seal of the Governor-General appears in both English and Arabic on the higher denominations to the left and Gordon’s signature appears beneath his seal generally to the right on the higher denomination notes. Initially all notes were hand-signed by Gordon. As the issuance grew, notes with a hectographic signature were issued; however, merchants were reluctant to accept the printed signature variety, so Gordon returned to signing each note. On the reverse of most notes is a stamp of an Italian lawyer based in Cairo.
Issuance
Under the British Administration of Sudan there were four types of paper currency issued during the siege of Khartoum. Bearing a date of 25 April 1884, the first Sudan piaster issue was printed, in the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 20, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 2500 and 5000 piastres. Also bearing the same issue date is the 50 Egyptian pound note. A third type issued on 25 April 1884 is a 20 British pound note, with text in French, and signed "Gordon Pasha". Finally, on 1 August 1884, a second issue of the 100 piastre note was printed. Outside of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money for specialized issues, images of the last two types could not be found. The known population of remaining siege of Khartoum notes varies by denomination from the first type 100 piastre note to the 50 Egyptian pound note. Presumably there are fewer still of the one piaster, second type 100 piastre, and 20 British pound notes.
