The Chartered Mercantile Bank
of India, London & China
Ceylon Branch - 1858 - Kandy

After receiving its Royal Charter on 1857 September 15 The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London & China it issued notes within months at its initial branches, Colombo & Kandy in Ceylon. This Proof was printed in 1858 with an Engraving with Brittania by Batho & Co London before being replaced in 1864 by Perkins Bacon & Petch, London Royal Arms.

Private Bank issue of Banknotes with a face value of £1 and higher was authorized by 1844 Ordinance 23, that was replaced by 1861 Ordinance 2 which authorized the issue of Banknotes with a face value of 10 Shillings and higher. Since 5 Shillings was never Authorized it is unlikely that this note entered circulation and remained only a specimen. That may explain why Sinhala and Thamil text are not included.

Denomination: 5 Shillings
Note Color: Black
Overprint Color: Blue
English : Five Shillings
Size : 148 x 112 mm
Date : ___ 18__
Status : Proof
images/1858_cmbi_kan_5s_cpf.jpg
Click to see color pattern without overprint Pick-lk Unlisted

Front : On a decorated rectangular wide border centered on top CEYLON BRANCH, and circular in square designs in four corners and a shell at bottom middle. Within border on top Center, below words THE CHARTERED, Helmeted Britannia(Queen Boudica) seated facing forward, Spear pointed up in right hand Shield with Union Jack in her left hand with crown on top, Anchor, two packages and steam boat with sails down with mountain behind to right. Sailing Ship, package, bale, sleeping lion, Caduceus and coconut palm on right.
On either side numeric 5 SHILLINGS in decorate with small text Batho & Co and London below left and right. Below which on either side for Serial No.
Below KANDY on left, and ____ 18__ on right.
MERCANTILE BANK OF INDIA, LONDON & CHINA Promises to pay bearer on demand at its Branch at KANDY in the Currency of the Island FIVE SHILLINGS Value recd
Below By Order of the Directors above in one line Entd _____ ACCTt ______ MANAGER
Value as large word FIVE in background in light Blue.
Back : Blank on Proof
WaterMark : None in Specimen
Printed : Batho & Co London.

Engraving has lot in common with the Ceylon Government Treasury Notes of 1850.
This Currency Proof does not have value in vernacular languages Sinhala and Thamil, which has almost always been shown on all Currency issues since 1785.
Words THE CHARTERED seems to have been just added to this 5 Shilling design, although properly incorporated to name in 10 Shillings note which also includes Sinhala and Thamil.
After charter the notes were signed by By Order of the Court of Directors and that modification has also not been done on this Proof.

According to Joe Cribb the 5 Shilling Note for Kandy Branch was printed on 1858 January 18th, but there is no evidence that it was issued into circulation.

I thank Claire Twinn, Global Functions Archives Manager, HSBC Holdings PLC, London for sending me in 2020 February, the image of the Specimen 5 Shilling note from the HSBC Collection. Reproduced with the permission of HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC Archives) Reduced image to 200 dpi and displayed at 50 dpi.

Reverse image was not found online, is blank in this Specimen from HSBC Archive.

Text from Money in the Bank, by Joe Cribb, An Illustrated Introduction to the Money Collection of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1987. p 185.