or
.
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 Perfin or are overprinted with text such
as SPECIMEN that clearly identify them and
prevent their use as currency.
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
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
King Parakramabahu (+Sri)
1973-1977 S-Notes
Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka
1977 : Rs 50, 100 S-Notes
Historical and Archaeological
1981-1985 : Rs 5, 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
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.
Sometimes it is a dummy prefix, not used on issued note which may
imply a Printer proof.
Few are seen with 
prefix or
even dummy serial numbers such as 123456 and 789012
Sometimes only Proofs 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 SPECIMEN and withdrawing it from Circulation. No Ceylon notes like this are found dated after 1940.
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.
The Red oval DeLaRue Specimen No Value logo on left is seen on the
1969 Post Demonatization Issue, but also from the 1987 issue although
that still has Bradbury Wilkinson as the Printer name. In 2010 DeLaRue
adopted the new logo on right.
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, Rs100If 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.