BankNotes from Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Dutch Colonial : 1785 to 1796

Dutch Ceylan Ryksdaalders Notes Notes

Uniface Dated Printed by Dutch Press, Colombo
Kredit Brief : Legality and Value was stated in Dutch, Sinhala & Tamil
1785-05-10: Colombo : Ryxd 50, 100, 500, 1000 - Cancelled 1787-04-05
1785-1792 : Colombo : Ryxd 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 100, 200, 400, 500, 1000
1788     : Trincomalee : Ryxd 25, 50, 100
1789-1790 : Batticaloa : Ryxd 5, 10, 25, 50, 200, 500
All the above Kredit Breven dated before 1793 September 1st demonetized on 1793 December 17th
1793-11-15 : Colombo : Ryxd 50
1794-01-18 : Colombo : Ryxd 25 note, 50, 100, 200, 400, 1000 note
1795-09-17 : Colombo : Ryxd 5 note, 10.

Kas Noot (Cash Note) : Biface. Dated.
No Legality statement. Value stated in Dutch, Sinhala & Tamil
1796          : Colombo : Ryxd 1, 2, Ryxd 3, Ryxd 4, Ryxd 5, Ryxd 10 notes
After 1796 February 15, the British Government endorsed £50,000 worth of Kredit Brief and Kas Noot
to pay 3% interest and these banknotes effectively became bonds.

British Colonial Notes: 1800 to 1884

Legality statement only in English.
Value stated in English, Sinhala & Tamil - No Interest

Government of Ceylon, General Treasury
Uniface. Undated.

Rix Dollar Notes 1800-1824
Printed by Government Press, Colombo
1800          : RD 25, 50, 100
1806          : Colombo ; RD 2 note
Printed by Gale & Butler Engravers, London
1809          : Colombo ; RD 5, RD 100 notes
Printed by Silvester, London
1814-1816 : Colombo ; RD 1 note, ලන්කවේ(sic)
1820          : Colombo ; RD 2, RD 5 notes ලංකවේ
1820-1830 : Colombo ; RD 2 note, ; With Dry Stamp

British Sterling Notes 1825-1856
Printed by Silvester & Co, London
1827-1850 : Colombo : £1, £2 proofs(in English Only),£ 5, 10, 20, 25, 50
Printed by Perkins Bacon & Petch, London.
1850-1855 : Colombo : £1, £2, £5 notes

Private Banks : 1844 to 1884

Bank of Ceylon : 1844-1849
Uniface. Undated. Printed by Perkins Bacon & Petch, London.
1844 :         Colombo : £1, proof
1845 :         Colombo : £1, £2, £5, £10, £20, £50 notes

The Asiatic Banking Corporation Notes
Uniface. Undated. Printed by Smith Elder & Co Engravers, London
1864-1866 Colombo 10s, £1, £5, £10 notes
                  Kandy 10s, £1, £5, £10 notes
Biface. Undated
1864-1866 Colombo 10s note - £1 note
                  Kandy 10s note

The Mercantile Bank of India, London & China - Ceylon Branch Notes
Sterling Era : Pounds & Shillings
Uniface. Undated Printed by Batho & Co London, with Britannia Design
1857 :         Colombo 5s, £1, £5 notes
1857 :         Kandy 5s proof (in English Only)
The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London & China - Ceylon Branch
1858 :         Kandy - 5s proof (in English Only)
1862 :         Kandy - 10s note (Biface)
Biface. Undated. Printed by Perkins Bacon & Co, London with Royal Crest Design
1864-1869 Colombo - 10s, £1, £5, £10, £50 notes
1864-1869 Kandy - 10s, £1, £5 notes
Biface. Dated. Decimal Era : Rupees
1870-1884 Colombo - Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes
1870-1884 Kandy - Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 50 notes
1880-1884 Galle - Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 100 notes

The Oriental Bank - Ceylon Branch Notes
Uniface. Undated. Printed by Batho & Bingley, London.
1846-1850 Colombo - 10s, £1, £5, £10 notes
The Oriental Bank Corporation
In Rupees even before adoption Decimal Currency
or the equivalent in the Currency of the Island
Dated by Hand. Note Printed by Perkins Bacon & Petch, London.
1851-1852 Colombo - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1851-1852 Kandy - Rs 5 note
1853-1880 Biface. Printed by Perkins Bacon & Co, London.
1853-1863 Colombo - Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 1000 notes (Date not Printed)
Date Printed
1864-1869 Colombo - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes - Rs 50 notes
1864-1869 Kandy - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1866-1869 Galle - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes - Rs 50, Rs 100 notes
1864-1869 Jaffna - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1864-1869 Badulla - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1864-1869 Ceylon - Rs 5 proof
After adoption of Decimal Currency in Rupees
1870-1880 Colombo - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes - Rs 50, Rs 100 note
1870-1880 Kandy - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1870-1880 Galle - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1870-1880 Jaffna - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1870-1880 Badulla - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1870-1880 Haldamulla - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1876-1880 Ceylon - Rs 5, Rs 10 proofs (for Newera Ellia)
Biface. Dated. Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Engravers &c. London.
1881-1884 Colombo - Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100 notes
1881-1884 Kandy - Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100 notes
1881-1884 Galle - Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100 notes
1881-1884 Jaffna - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1881-1884 Badulla - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1881-1884 Haldamulla - Rs 5 notes
1881-1884 Newera Ellia - Rs 5, Rs 10 notes

Boer War P.O.W. Issue Notes
Uniface. Date Stamped. Prisoners' Enclosure
1901-1902 - Diyatalawa Camp 50cents, Re 1, Rs 5, Rs 10 notes
1901-1902 - Ragama Camp 10Cents, 25Cents, 50cents, Re 1, Rs 5 notes
The Ceylon Ice and Cold Storage Company Store
1901-1902 - Ragama Camp 10Cents, 15Cents, 25Cents, 50cents, Re 1, Rs 5 notes
1901-1902 - Ragama Camp 5Cents, 10Cents, 25Cents, 50cents, Re 1, Rs 5 notes Series B

The Government of Ceylon Notes: 1885 to 1949

Issued by the Commissioner of Currency under act #32 of 1884

Government of Ceylon
Uniface. Dated. Printed By Thomas De La Rue & Co., London S-Notes
Banknotes hand signed at time of issue.
1885 : Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100 notes
Facsimile signatures. 2 Serial
1887-1894 : Rs 5, Rs 10 notes,
Facsimile signatures. 4 Serial
1894-1926 : Rs 5 notes, Rs 10 notes, Rs 50 notes, Rs 100 notes, Rs 500 note, Rs 1000 notes,
Please Help refine knowledge on Issue dates and Prefix+Serial in Ceylon bankNotes from 1887 to 1909. Thanks.
1917-1939 : The Ceylon Rupee Note - Act #1 of 1917 S-Notes
1917 Re 1 notes (Biface), Rs 2(red) note, Rs 2 notes,
Biface with Ceylon Government Elephant logo behind
1925-1939 : Rs 2 notes,
1925-1928 : Rs 5 notes, Rs 10 notes,
Small Size.
1929-1939 : Rs 5 notes, Rs 10 notes, Rs 50 notes, Rs 1000 notes,

Emergency WWII Fractional Issues
This note is legal tender for the Payment of a sum not exceeding Five Rupees
Printed by Government Press, Colombo - S-Notes
1942-01-01 : Cents 25 note, Cents 50 note
1942-06-01 : Cents 5 notes (2c+3c Stamp images)
Printed by India Security Press, Nashik - S-Notes
1942-1949 : Cents 10 notes, Cents 25 notes, Cents 50 notes (KGVI Portrait)

Printed in India Government Security Press by lithography process.
King George VI - Pictorial S-Notes
Promise to pay the Bearer on Demand the Sum of
1941-02-01 : Re 1 note, Rs 2 note, Rs 5 note, Rs 10 note

This Note is Legal Tender for the Payment of Any Amount
1941-1949 : Re 1 notes, Rs 2 notes, Rs 5 notes, Rs 10 notes, Rs 50 notes, Rs 100 notes, Rs 1000 notes, Rs 10000 note
Please Help refine knowledge on Prefix+Serial and perferated edge in Ceylon bankNotes of 1948 and 1949. Thanks.

Independent Lanka

Central Bank of Ceylon Notes: 1950 to 1985

Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ld, New Malden, Surrey, England
King George VI S-Notes
1951-01-20 : Rs 1, 10 notes

Queen Elizabeth II S-Notes
1952-1954 : Rs 1, 2, 5, 5, 10, 50, 100 notes

Armorial Ensign of Ceylon(Sinhala only Name of CBC) S-Notes
1956-1959 : Rs 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100 notes
1960-1963 : Rs 1, 2, 5, 10 notes (+Metal Thread)

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Portrait S-Notes
1961-1965-04 : Rs 2, 5, 10 ,50, 100 notes

King Parakramabahu
1965-09-1968 : Rs 2, 5, 10, 50, 100 notes S-Notes
1969-1972-05 : Rs 2, 5, 10, 50, 100 notes(+Tamil&English Name of CBC) S-Notes

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Portrait 1970 Post Demonetization notes. S-Notes
Printed By Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited
         : Rs 50, 100 notes; *-Notes (Hand Raised)
Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ld, New Malden, Surrey, England
1971 : Rs 100 notes (+UV Security) S-Notes

Republic of Sri Lanka : Since 1972 May 22

1972-1974-07 : Rs 50, 100 notes (+Sri)
1974-08-1975 : Rs 50, 100 notes (+UV SigDateSN)

King Parakramabahu S-Notes
1973 : Rs 2, 5, 10 notes (+Sri) Bricks
1974-07 : Rs 5, 10 notes (+leading 0 in dates)
1974-08-1977 : Rs 2. 5, 10 notes (+UV Security +UV SigDateSN)

Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka S-Notes
1977 : Rs 50, 100 notes

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka : Since 1978 February 4

Flora and Fauna Notes S-Notes Paintings
Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson
1979 : Rs 2 note, Rs 5 note, Rs 10 note, Rs 20 note, Rs 50 note, Rs 100 note

Historical and Archaeological Notes S-Notes Essay
Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson
1981-1985 : Rs 5 note, Rs 10 notes, Rs 20 notes, Rs 50 note, Rs 100 note, Rs 500 notes, Rs 1000 note

Central Bank of Sri Lanka Notes: since 1986

Historical and Development Notes; *-Notes S-Notes
Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson branch of DeLaRue in Sri Lanka
1987-1990 : Rs 10 notes, Rs 20 notes, Rs 50 notes, Rs 100 notes, Rs 500 notes, Rs 1000 notes

Sri Lanka Heritage Notes; *-Notes(1991-1994) *-Notes(1995-2006) S-Notes
Printed by Thomas De La Rue Company Limited. in Sri Lanka
1991-2006 : Rs 10 notes, Rs 20 notes, Rs 50 notes, Rs 100 notes, Rs 500 notes, Rs 1000 notes, Rs 2000 notes

Development, Prosperity and Sri Lankan Dancers Notes; *-Notes S-Notes
Printed by DeLaRue in Sri Lanka
2010-2022 : Rs 20 notes, Rs 50 notes, Rs 100 notes, Rs 500 notes, Rs 1000 notes, Rs 5000 notes
Please Help Track Prefix+Serial when Date changes in current Sri Lanka BankNotes. Thanks.

Commemorative issues

CBSL Commemorative Notes, S-Notes
1998-02-04 Polymer notes Printed by Note Printing Australia
         Sri Lanka Independence - 50th Anniversary - Rs 200 notes
2009-05-18 The Ushering of Peace and Prosperity in Sri Lanka - Rs 1000 note; *-Note
2013-11-15 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM Sri Lanka) - Rs 500 note
2018-02-04 Sri Lanka 70th Independence - Celebrating Diversity, - Rs 1000 note

Official Patterns

1942-06-01 WWII 5 cent 2c+3c Stamps pattern
1942-07-14 KGVI WWII 25 Cents pattern
1951-01-20 King George VI unissued Dinominations patterns
1972-05-22 Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike patterns

Printer Essays

1938-07-01 GoC KGVI Pictorial "Promises To Pay" Rs 1000 essay
1938-07-01 GoC KGVI Pictorial "Is Legal Tender" Rs10 essays
1927-1978 BWCL, TDLR, CNP, and WSL essays,

Exonumia

1920's        : Jaffna - Hundis
1935-1942 : Rubber Export Coupons
1941          : WWII Tea Export Coupons
1942-1958 : WWII Rice Ration Books
1943-1945 : WWII Petrol Coupons
1945-1947 : WWII Cloth Coupons

2016-2020 : School Uniform Vouchers

Fantasy

1965-2009 : Local Political Notes
2016 : Bank Van Nederlands Ceylon notes
2016 : Island of Ceylon Rs100 note

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