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 overprinted with text such as SPECIMEN that clearly identify them and prevent their use as currency.

Government of Ceylon

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

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 & C^o L^d, New Malden, Surrey, England
1971-1975 : Rs 50, 100 (+UV Security) S-Notes

Republic of Sri Lanka
Since 1972 May 22

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

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 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

Some older Specimens dating back to the mid 19th Century have the first and last prefix and serial numbers of the print run. 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.

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.

• In the 1950s Large SPECIMEN horizontal over legality statement on front.
  A double punch holes in the middle space used with one for each of the signatures. For KGVI and QEII the punches were horizontal, with signatures on the same row. The intention is seen in the vertical punches when the two signatures were placed on the same column.
• In the 1960s till 1977 the above logical format was mayne forgotton and nolonger followed. SPECIMEN was at a Diagonal in Middle and punches always horizontally spaced.
• In 1979 for the Sri lanka Fauna and Flora Specimens found on online Auction Archives curiously did not have the 000000 Serial Number, Date, or Signatures printed on them. Same on some of the early 1980s. They also had only a Single Punch Hole.
• A specimen Control Number was introduced in 1979 and Bradbury Wilkinson as a 3 digit number on the back of the banknote. DeLaRue had it printed on the lower left margin on the front.
• The Hole punch is last seen on a 1992 Rs 500 Specimen, and not seen from the second issue of 1992 Rs 100 note with orange Back.
• 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 13 Ceylon & Sri lanka regular 00000 Speciman Notes needed to complete this webpage.

• 1894-1926 Rs 50 Colinial Type Uniface.
• 1917 Rs 2 Red Uniface
• 1917-1922 Rs 2 Colinial Type Uniface.
• 1942-01-01 25 Cents Emergency Uniface.
• 1942-06-01 5 Cents 2c+3c
• 1973-1977 Rs 2 Parakarama Bahu with Sri
• 1991-1994 Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100 (orange back), Rs 1000
• 1995-2006 Rs 10, Rs100

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.

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.