BankNote Specimens
from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 1885-2018

According to the International Bank Note Society (IBNS), Specimen notes are usually the final design, overprinted for distribution to banks and institutions to show what a new banknote looks like. Specimen notes are also produced as presentation pieces. 1

Specimen banknotes have no legal monetary value and are not intended for circulation. Typically serve as display and reference reference materials for banks, financial institutions, and sometimes law enforcement, enabling them to familiarize themselves with the design and security features of the genuine notes.
These notes often have perforations or are overprinted with text such as SPECIMEN that clearly identify them and prevent their use as currency.

Government of Ceylon

Uniface. Colonial Style
Printed By Thomas De La Rue & Co., London
1885-1926: Rs 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 S-Notes

Bi-face. The Ceylon Rupee
1917-1939: Rs 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 1000 S-Notes

WWII Fractional Rupee Emergency Issues
Printed in Ceylon Government Press Colombo
1942-1949: cents 50, 25, 5 S-Notes

Printed by Indian Currency Note Press (CNP) in Nashik, by lithography process.
King George VI - Pictorial
1941-1949: Rs 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000 S-Notes,

WWII Fractional Rupee Issues with King George VI
1942-1949: 10, 25, 50 Cent S-Notes

Independent Lanka

Central Bank of Ceylon
Notes
: 1950 to 1985

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

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

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

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

King Parakramabahu
1965-09-1968 : Rs 2, 5, 10, 50, 100 S-Notes
1969-1972-05 : Rs 2, 5, 10, 50, 100 S-Notes

Post Demonetization notes.
Printed By Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Portrait
1970 : Rs 50, 100 S-Notes (+Tamil&English Name of CBC)

Printed by
Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ld, New Malden, Surrey, England
1971-1975 : Rs 50, 100 (+UV Security) S-Notes

Republic of Sri Lanka
Since 1972 May 22

Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson

King Parakramabahu (+Sri)
1973-1977 S-Notes

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

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Since 1978 February 4

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

Historical and Archaeological
1981-1985 : Rs 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 S-Notes

Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Notes since 1986

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

Printed by Thomas De La Rue Company Limited. in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Heritage
1991-2006 Rs 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000 S-Notes

Printed by DeLaRue in Sri Lanka
Development, Prosperity and Sri Lankan Dancers
2010-2022 : Rs 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 S-Notes

Commemorative issues

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

The earliest known Specimen note from 1844 just has SPECIMEN stamped to ensure it is not used as currency.

At least from the 1880s some of the the Specimens printed by Bradbury Wilkinson has the range of prefix Serial Numbers specified as the two Serial numbers printed on the note. These specimens offer unique insight into the production and numbering process, making them particularly desirable for those interested in the minting history of Banknotes. They are often the only documented evidence of the range of Serial numbers and how many banknotes were printed of that specific type and date.

Instead of the large Punched holes some Specimens have inscription Punched with tiny holes (Perfin) such as or .

More modern specimens have the First prefix and a 000000 serial number, marking them as distinct from regular issued notes. Few are seen with prefix or even dummy serial numbers such as 123456 and 789012

Sometimes only Proofa and Specimens remain of older Banknote types. Before there were significant collector interest in Banknotes, almost all issued BankNote were redeemed and destroyed or cancelled with holes punched into them. A circulated bank note is one that was maybe lost from circulation and discovered later after their Numismatic value far exceeded the face-value.

Banknote Collectors value Specimen due to their rarity compared to regular issued notes. Maybe a few Tens or a bundle of a hundred specimens are printed while there are Million of circulation notes of the same type, date and signatures. Also specimens are often in pristine condition. Since they were never in circulation, Specimen notes often remain in mint or near-mint condition, free from the wear and tear common to circulated notes. This adds to their allure as prized items for numismatists.

Sometimes notes printed for circulation with a valid serial number could be made a Specimen at the bank by hand stamping large SPECIMEN in Red or Black and withdrawing it from Circulation. In such case one need to be careful to determine the Specimen stamp is original and not forgery to try increase the numismatic value of the note.

The availability of Specimen notes can vary greatly depending on the print run and the era in which they were issued, making some issues significantly rarer than others.

While reserching for this webpage I have observed some interesting facts about the evolution of the format of Ceylon and Sri Lanka Specimens.

Images of 11 Ceylon & Sri lanka regular 00000 Speciman Notes needed to complete this webpage. They have not been reported for inclusion in the BanknoteBook and may not exist in Numismatic Market.

1894-1926  Rs 50 Colonial Type Uniface.
1917       Rs  2 Red Uniface   
1917-1922  Rs  2 Colonial Type Uniface.
1942-01-01 25 Cents Emergency Uniface.
1942-06-01  5 Cents 2c+3c
1973-1977  Rs  2 ParakaramaBahu with Sri
1991-1994  Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 100 (orange back)
1995-2006  Rs 10, Rs100 
If anyone has any of above Specimens even images please contribute 300 dpi images to kavan @ gmail.com or WhatsApp +94712537551 Thank You.

The specimen note images are from online Archives and Auctions, and are displayed at 25 dpi in the pages linked above with word S-Notes. Images expand to full browser window size when moused-over.


Reference
1 IBNS Introduction to Banknotes and BankNote collecting. 2018 www.theIBNS.org

Part of notes.lakdiva.org.lk a website for
Banknotes of Ceylon and Sri Lanka since 1785.