50 rupees 1963
About This Note
This 50 Rupees banknote from 1963, issued by the Central Bank of Ceylon, exemplifies the refined security printing of the early post-independence era. The note features a striking purple and mauve color scheme with intricate mandala-like ornamental designs and a profile portrait on the obverse, while the reverse displays architectural elements in blue-green tones. In Fair condition, the note shows expected wear with visible creases, foxing, and discoloration consistent with circulation, yet remains legible and displayable for collectors interested in early Ceylonese currency.
Common. The 50 Rupees note from the 1961-1965 Central Bank of Ceylon series was a standard denomination issued in substantial quantities for general circulation. No evidence of limited print runs, early recall, or scarcity in numismatic records. Fair condition examples are routinely available in the collector market at modest prices typical of early post-independence Commonwealth currency.
This note was issued during the early years of Ceylon's independence (1961-1965 series), when the Central Bank was establishing its identity through distinctive national imagery. The reverse design features the Ratnagiri Vatadage at Polonnaruwa, an important Buddhist architectural monument representing Ceylon's cultural and spiritual heritage. The obverse portrait commemorates Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, Ceylon's first Prime Minister, reflecting the nation's democratic leadership during this formative post-colonial period.
The obverse features a left-facing profile portrait of Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike rendered in purple tones on the right side, positioned within an elaborate frame of ornamental design. The central motif is an intricate mandala-like geometric and floral pattern in green, pink, and purple, flanked by decorative borders. The denomination '50' appears in ornate styling on the left. The reverse depicts the Ratnagiri Vatadage's ornamental railings and architectural screens in the upper and left portions in blue-green tones, with a circular ornamental medallion design on the right side, and the denomination repeated in corners. Bilingual inscriptions in English and Sinhala frame the design elements.
FRONT SIDE: 'FIFTY RUPEES' (English denomination); '50' (numeric denomination); '1963' (year of issue); 'ශ්රී ලංකා' (Sinhala: 'Sri Lanka'). BACK SIDE: 'FIFTY RUPEES' (English denomination); '50' (numeric denomination, upper left and right corners); 'ශ්රී ලංකා' (Sinhala: 'Sri Lanka'); 'ඉඩම්බුදු නෙපාල' (Sinhala inscription, likely referring to the reverse design); 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO. LTD., MAIDENVALE, SURREY, ENGLAND' (printer attribution).
Intaglio (recess/line engraving) as evidenced by the fine line work, intricate geometric patterns, and ornamental details visible throughout. The security printing was executed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., New Malden (Surrey), England, a prestigious security printer known for high-quality banknote production. The fine line engraving serves as an anti-counterfeiting measure, with the crisp detail observable even in the worn condition of this circulated example.
This note is cataloged as Pick 65b, indicating it is the second variety within the 1963 50 Rupees series. Varieties in this series are typically distinguished by signature combinations (Central Bank officials and Ministers of Finance) and serial number prefixes. The serial number visible on this example is 5/14 04145. Detailed variety identification would require comparison with signature combinations and prefix documentation specific to the 1963 printing, which would distinguish this from Pick 65a and other contemporary variants.
