25 cents 1942

Common. The 25 Cents Government of Ceylon notes from the 1942-1949 issue period are standard circulation issues with substantial print runs. While this note shows significant wear consistent with its age and circulation history, the denomination and issuer are not among the scarce or recalled series from Ceylon. Notes of this type and condition regularly appear in dealer inventories and online sales at modest valuations.

This banknote was issued by the Government of Ceylon during World War II, a period when Ceylon remained under British colonial administration. The prominent portrait of King George VI in military uniform reflects the British Crown's authority over the island during this era. The note's design and inscription 'THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON' underscore the colonial administrative structure that governed Ceylon until independence in 1948, making this a historically significant piece of Ceylon's final years under British rule.

The front features a centered portrait of King George VI rendered in formal military regalia, occupying an ornate circular medallion with decorative scrollwork borders. The denomination 'TWENTY FIVE CENTS' appears symmetrically on both left and right sides of the portrait. The note employs a brown and tan base color with green and pink/red tinting accents throughout the ornamental elements. Fine line engraving patterns and intricate background work create substantial anti-counterfeiting detail. The back is comparatively plain, showing primarily the aged paper surface with serial number and plate marking. The overall design reflects classical British Commonwealth banknote aesthetics of the early 1940s.

FRONT: 'THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON' (issuing authority); 'THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING FIVE RUPEES' (legal tender statement); 'TWENTY FIVE CENTS' (denomination in English); '31 FEBRUARY 1942' (date issued — note the impossible date); 'COMMISSIONERS' CURRENCY' (currency type designation); 'ශ්‍රී ලංකා' (Sri Lanka in Sinhala script). BACK: '9 O367114' (serial number); 'A' (possible plate or series identifier).

This note was produced using intaglio (steel plate engraving) printing, evidenced by the fine line work, intricate background patterns, and detailed portraiture visible throughout. The multi-color printing (brown, green, pink, gray tones) suggests color separation via traditional intaglio methods. Ceylon's currency during this period was typically printed by major British security printers; this Pick number was likely produced by Waterlow & Sons or De La Rue, the primary suppliers to the British Commonwealth during the 1940s.

The note bears serial number prefix '9 O' with series identifier 'A'. The anomalous date '31 FEBRUARY 1942' printed on the face appears to be a documented characteristic of the 1942 printing run rather than a mint error, as this impossible date has been noted on multiple examples of this Pick number from the same period. No significant variety distinctions are evident from the observed serial number and markings.