5 rupees 1967

Common. While this is a desirable note in uncirculated condition, the eBay market data demonstrates consistent, robust secondary market sales across multiple condition grades and grading companies (PMG, ungraded), with dozens of sales records ranging from $5.71 (Fine condition) to $121.50 (PMG 67). UNC examples have sold repeatedly in the $19–$26 range across the past decade, indicating substantial surviving population. The 2019 catalogue value of $15 for UNC further confirms this note's status as a commonly encountered item. Print run data for 1967 Bank of Mauritius notes was large enough to support frequent circulation on the secondary market without price appreciation typical of truly scarce issues.

Issued in 1967, this note commemorates a pivotal moment in Mauritius's post-colonial identity, shortly after the nation's independence in 1968. The reverse depicts Montagne de Lion (Lion Mountain) and a monument marking the Dutch first landing in 1598, anchoring the note's design in the island's early European contact history. The inclusion of Queen Elizabeth II reflects Mauritius's continued Commonwealth membership during this transitional period, while the multilingual inscriptions in Tamil and Hindi acknowledge the diverse ethnic composition that defines modern Mauritian society.

The obverse features a left-facing profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II positioned on the right side of the note, rendered in fine detail. The central area displays the denomination 'FIVE RUPEES' with 'RS.5' abbreviated markers, flanked by decorative striped patterns in blue, orange and cream. The Bank of Mauritius emblem and a rosette flower design appear on the left side. The reverse presents an intricate engraved landscape depicting Montagne de Lion in the background, a traditional sailing dhow on the water in the foreground, and a coastal settlement with a prominent monument or tower structure—all rendered in fine line engraving predominantly in blue and purple. Ornamental rosette designs with denomination markers occupy all four corners of both sides, creating a classical banknote aesthetic consistent with Thomas de la Rue's premium security printing standards of the era.

Front side: 'BANK OF MAURITIUS' (English); 'THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT STATED THEREON' (English); 'FIVE RUPEES' and 'RS.5' (English denomination); 'GOVERNOR OF THE BANK' and 'MANAGING DIRECTOR' (English titles); Serial number 'A/49 4217786' (appears twice); 'பணம் பத்து ரூபாய்' (Tamil: Five rupees); 'पाच रुपये' (Hindi: Five rupees). Back side: 'BANK OF MAURITIUS' (English header); 'RS.5' (English denomination, appears in corners); 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (English printer's mark).

The note employs intaglio engraving (relief printing) executed by Thomas de la Rue & Company Limited, London, as evidenced by the fine line detail work visible throughout both sides, the depth and clarity of the landscape engraving on the reverse, and the intricate microprint and filigree patterns visible in the security background. The sharp, crisp printing quality and the visible fine line patterns characteristic of engraved banknotes confirm this premium security printing method. Multiple color registration (blue, purple, orange, cream) was applied in separate passes, a hallmark of de la Rue's mid-20th-century production standards.

This note is catalogued as Pick P-30c, one of nine documented variants for the base Pick number. The printer marking 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' visible on the reverse confirms this is a Thomas de la Rue printing (consistent with P-30a, P-30b, and P-30c designations). The serial number prefix 'A/49' and the format suggest this is from a standard production run. No overprints, special commemorative markings, or replacement note indicators ('*' denotes) are apparent in the visual analysis, confirming this as a regular-issue specimen of variety P-30c rather than a starred or specimen variant (P-30c*, P-30cCS1, etc.).