1 rupee 1925
About This Note
A 1925 Government of Ceylon 1 rupee note (Pick P-16b) in VG condition, featuring the characteristic ornamental design with blue and green/tan coloring typical of early Ceylon currency. The note displays the classic promise-to-pay formula and dual-language text (English and Sinhala), with prominent signatures and an October 1st, 1925 issue date from Colombo. Despite significant age-related wear including creases, folds, and foxing consistent with a note nearly a century old, the intricate engraved designs remain clearly visible, making this a desirable example of interwar Ceylon currency.
Common. The 1917-1939 series 1 rupee notes from Ceylon represent standard circulation currency of the colonial period with substantial print runs. Pick P-16b encompasses notes from this entire date range (not a single-year issue), and 1 rupee denominations were the most frequently printed and circulated. VG condition examples are regularly encountered in the market. No evidence of a short print run, recall, or limited issuing period suggests typical commercial availability for notes of this age and denomination.
Issued during the terminal phase of British colonial rule in Ceylon (1917-1939 series), this note represents the Government of Ceylon's currency authority before independence. The bilingual inscription incorporating Sinhala script alongside English reflects Ceylon's multicultural population and the gradual localization of currency design during the interwar period. The Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd. printing confirms the reliance on Britain's premier security printer for colonial currency production.
The obverse features a classical arrangement with denomination indicators in a left-hand circular medallion containing an ornamental floral design surrounding the numeral '1', while the center displays 'ONE RUPEE' in large blue text within a rectangular cartouche. The design incorporates elaborate borders with repeating floral motifs executed in fine engraved line work. The reverse presents a monochromatic blue design dominated by a large symmetrical rosette medallion with intricate geometric and floral patterns, surrounded by an ornamental border; corner denominations ('ONE' and 'RUPEE') are placed in all four corners. No portraits or specific landmarks are depicted; instead, the design relies entirely on ornamental engraved embellishment typical of early 20th-century security printing practices.
Front Side: 'THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON' / 'Promises to pay the Bearer on Demand the Sum of' / 'ONE RUPEE' / 'RUPEE' (in circular medallion) / Sinhala text (ඉස්තරයි - 'promissory' and ශ්රී ගණරාජ්යය - 'Sri Lanka/Republic') / 'Colombo, 1st October 1925' / 'FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON' / 'COMMISSIONERS OF CURRENCY' / 'THOS. DE LA RUE & CO LTD LONDON' / Serial: 'D 59' and '35989'. Back Side: 'ONE' (top corners) / 'RUPEE' (below each 'ONE')
Intaglio engraving (line engraving and cross-hatching) executed by Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd., London, the renowned security printer responsible for colonial currency production. The intricate fine-line work, complex rosette patterns, and detailed border ornamentation are characteristic of high-security intaglio process. Evidence of handwritten signatures indicates manual authorization by officials of the Commissioners of Currency.
This specific example is identified as Pick P-16b variant, dated 1st October 1925, with serial number D 59/35989. The 'D' prefix and five-digit serial suggest a particular printing batch. Varieties within the P-16 (1917-1939) range include different date printings and potentially different signature combinations; the handwritten signatures visible on this example should be documented for variety classification purposes. The precise issue date (1st October 1925) places this within the middle period of the series' circulation.
