1942 an extraordinary year
in the Numismatic history of Ceylon.

Exhibited at the American Numismatic Association 113th Convention
held from 2004 August 18th to 22nd in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA
Won First Place Class 25 Asian Numismatics
William B. Warden Jr Memorial Exhibit Award

• Dated 1942 January 1st emergency issue of locally printed subsidiary notes of denominations of fifty cents and twenty five cents, to tide over shortage of silver coins. These notes printed on security paper meant for rubber coupons ceased to be legal tender in just 6-months with effect 1942 July 15th.

• On 1942 January 3rd a Nickel-brass Five cent coin was included in the new schedule of denominations, metals, standard weights.

• Dated 1942 February 1st subsidiary notes printed in India Government Security Press with the denominations of fifty cents, twenty-five cents and ten cents. These fractional currency notes were only legal tender for payment of amounts less than Five Rupees.

• 1942 April 1st Rubber Export Coupons were issued and used by some growers almost like cash to obtain provisions.

• Reissue: 1942 July 14th, an unpublished color Trial and Pattern of Twenty-Five cents denomination.

• Dated 1942 June 1st, Five cent notes with imprint of Postage Stamps of 2 cent and 3 cent. Some of notes perforated in the center allowing user to make change when needed.

• On 1942 July 30th, all silver fifty cents coin issued in the year 1942 or before were declared to cease to be legal tender after 1942 September 30th.

• In 1942 a Bakelite one cent pattern coin was studied as an alternative to save copper for War effort and found to be not durable.

• On 1942 September 8th, the copper one cent coin was replaced by a bronze coin, of about half the thickness and weight.

• On 1942 December 3rd, all silver twenty-five cents and ten cent coin issued before 1942 was demonatized effective 1943 February 28th.

• 1942 December, demonatized silver ten cent coins were counter-marked GPO for use in Telephone booths, and later replaced by GPO Crown Phone Token of same size.