5 rupees 1954

Common. While the PMG 64 EPQ grade represents a desirable upper-middle condition tier, the 1954 5 Rupees note itself is not rare. Historical eBay transaction data shows consistent sales across a wide range of grades (from G to UNC) with regular market activity, indicating a substantial surviving population. Notes graded PMG 64 have sold in the $200-$300+ range in recent years, reflecting demand for well-preserved examples rather than inherent scarcity of the issue. The regular issue status and substantial print run of this Government of Mauritius series confirm common availability.

This 1954 note was issued during the Government of Mauritius period under British administration, with Queen Elizabeth II's portrait affirming the island's status within the Commonwealth. The reverse depicts the national coat of arms with the dodo bird and deer supporters, along with the Latin motto 'Stella Clavisque Maris Indici' (Star and Key of the Indian Ocean), emphasizing Mauritius's strategic maritime position. The multilingual inscriptions in English, Tamil, and Urdu on the reverse reflect the ethnically and linguistically diverse composition of the Mauritian population at this time.

The obverse features a formal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II positioned in an oval frame on the right side, rendered in fine line engraving characteristic of mid-20th century Commonwealth currency design. The lower left displays a landscape vignette depicting a mountainous scene with water and vegetation, typical of Mauritian topography. The center contains an ornamental rosette medallion with elaborate decorative borders and fine line work throughout. The reverse is dominated by the quartered coat of arms of Mauritius, flanked by heraldic supporters—the dodo bird on the left and a deer with antlers on the right—with a scroll banner below bearing the Latin national motto. The color scheme of blue on a cream/off-white multicolor underprint provides strong visual contrast and is consistent throughout both sides.

FRONT: 'THE GOVERNMENT OF MAURITIUS' — issuing authority; 'RS.5' / 'FIVE RUPEES' — denomination; 'These notes are legal tender for the payment of any amount' — legal tender declaration; 'Office of the Commissioners of Currency PORT LOUIS' — issuing office location; Serial number 'Q295412' appears twice. BACK: 'THE GOVERNMENT OF MAURITIUS' — issuing authority; 'STELLA CLAVISQUE MARIS INDICI' (Latin) — 'Star and Key of the Indian Ocean' — national motto; 'FIVE RUPEES' / 'Rs. 5' — denomination in English; 'ஐந்து ரூபாய்' (Tamil) — 'Five Rupees'; 'پاچ روپے' (Urdu) — 'Five Rupees'.

Intaglio (line engraving) printing by Bradbury Wilkinson & Company (BWC), New Malden, as indicated in the catalog data. The fine line patterns, intricate border designs, ornamental rosette work, and detailed heraldic engraving throughout both sides are hallmarks of high-quality intaglio security printing. The crisp, sharp detail observed in the visual analysis confirms the use of steel plate engraving with careful register and impression control.

This note falls under Pick-27, with PMG records indicating two cataloged variants (P-27 and P-27cts) both with BWC printer marking. The serial number Q295412 and the specific signature variety present on this example may correspond to a particular sub-variant within the P-27 designation, though without access to comprehensive signature and serial number range documentation, the exact sub-variety cannot be definitively determined from visual inspection alone. Collectors should cross-reference signature styles and serial number prefixes against detailed Pick or IBNS catalogs for precise variety identification.