Government of Ceylon
King George VI - 1st July 1938

Essay of a Rupees Ten Banknote with King George VI with date 1st July 1938. With the legality statement with no Promise to Pay and words Legal Tender used on Ceylon Banknotes only after 1941 September, these essays by Currency Note Press (CNP) a division of the India Security Press in Nashik were probably done in 1941 for the Commissioners of Currency of Ceylon, putting a fictitious older date.

Born on 1895 December 14th, Prince George, ascended to the throne on 1936 December 11th, on abdication of his brother King Edward VIII. George VI, and was coronated on 1937 May 12th.
Denomination: 10 Rupees English : Ten Rupees
Sinhala :  රුපියල් දහයයි Thamil : பத்து ரூபாய்
Size :  152x 102 mm Spink Auction 1023 lots 181 - 182

Front: THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON on top. below which legality statement THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT IN CEYLON Below centered in middle in VALUE TEN RUPEES in one line. Below which value in Sinhala රුපයල් දහයයි(sic) in Sinhala on left, and பத்து ரூபாய் in Thamil on right. Date COLOMBO 1ST July 1938. In two of three lines FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON on left with 2 dummy Signatures center before FOR COMMISIONORS OF CURRENCY on three or two lines on right Blank watermark space in circle at center right. Numeric Values at Upper left and right. Two Serial Numbers in Red with prefix at lower left and upper right. All within a rectangular decorated border and background. If you have images of higher resolution please contribute to kavanr @ gmail.com
Back : Underprint with Micro printing text THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON. Dalada Maligawa(Temple of the tooth relic) Pictorial at center with with single pilgrims in foreground and foliage in background. Anuradhapura Moonstone with 2 sets of Elephant. Horse, Lion and Bull sequence in one arc and 8 swans in an inner arc. Centered on top THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON in an arc. The value in figures 10 RUPEES slanted in upper corners left and right. Lower the value රුපයල් දහයයි in Sinhala on left, and பத்து ரூபாய் in Thamil on right.

For these two 1938 essays of Rs10 which are printed on both sides. For these two 1938 essays of Rs10 which are printed on both sides. The backs are identical except for color. The upper is blue, green, and pale red, while the lower is purple, pale orange, and blue. The front of the upper is blue and multicolored, while the lower is purple green, and blue. The front also has small differences. The Serial number in Red on in the upper and Black in the lower essay The text "For the Government of Ceylon" is in 2 lines in the Upper and 3 lines in the lower essay. The top of the legality statement is straight in the upper and curved down in the lower essay.line

Note the Error in the Sinhala on both sides of the BankNote. රුපයල් for රුපියල්. This error was not made on the Rs1000 KGVI note with same dummy date and signatures.

The notes at 225 and 175 dpi and displayed at about 50 dpi if assuming height of 1941 notes.
I thank the owner for the contribution of high resolution images of these two notes as well as pointing out the error in the Sinhala, I had not noticed.

Two Essay of 2 proposed colors for the Rs10 sold on 2010 April 14th, Spink Auction sold for grand Total of £10,000+20%BP