INDIA BANKNOTES OF THE LATE 19TH EARLY 20TH CENTURIES
The idea of issuing paper money was proposed in 1859 by Sir James Wilson and adopted by his successor Samuel Laving in 1861,the first notes whose payment was guaranteed by the government were introduced through the Indian Paper Money act of 1861. In the original proposal for paper money there was a provision for "circles". These were designated areas for the circulation of notes, those circulated in one circle not being available in another.
The first set of British India notes were the "Victorian Portrait " Series. The first note being issued 1 March 1862.
Examples of 10 and 100 Rupee Victorian Portrait Notes
these two notes NOT for sale in Spink auction
Notes in this series were 10,20,50,100,500,and 1000 rupees. *Indian Paper Money by Kishore Jhunjhunwalla published by Currencies and Coins in 2000,isann excellent reference source on Indian Paper Money*
A spate of forgeries was instrumental in the withdrawal of the Victorian series which was replaced by the uniface series, or underprint series. These uniface notes initially had a green underprint four language panels and two lots of serial numbers. Supplied from England the first of these notes were introduced in 1871 and they continued in circulation until 1925 when pictorial issues were issued.
In the original proposal for paper money there was a provision for "circles".These were designated areas for the circulation of notes,the concept arising to handle the encashment of notes over the vast areas of the Indian subcontinent
Prefix Issue Circle M Madras
A Cawnpore K Karachi
B Bombay R Rangoon
C Calcutta L Lahore
In the early twentieth century it was realised that paper money was becoming more popular and the rigidity that currency was only cashable within one circle was abandoned to enable encashment in all areas.The notes were changed to include promise to pay the bearer"at any office of issue". Other changes include changing the underprint to red, increasing the number of language panels to eight and increasing the number of serial numbers to four. (except in the five rupees which was increased to 3 serial numbers) .
Examples of all these variations can be seen by clicking on and reviewing the notes listed below.
Notes in this series were 5,10,22,50,100,500,1000,and 10000
| PickA7h | 10 Rupees 14th October 1901 | circle Calcutta,green underprint,4 language panel,2serial num |
| PickA18c | 500 Rupees sig H.Denning 10 May 1913 | circle Bombay,green underprint,4 language panel,4serial num |
| PickA19a | 1000 Rup. sig A.M.Brigstocke 2 Jun 1913 | circle Bombay,green underprint,4 language panel,4 serial num |
| PickA15 | 50 Rupees sig A.C.Mcwatters 8 Feb1916 | circle letter B,red underprint,8 language panel,4 serial num |
| PickA6h | 5 Rupees sig A.C.Mcwatters 13 Mar 1922 | no circle letter red underprint 8 language panel,3 serial num |
| PickA10i | 10 Rupees sig M.M.S.Gubbay 10 Mar 1920 | no circle,red underprint,8 language panel,4 serial num |
all the above notes on sale at Spink Auction October 2008