50 rupees 1965
About This Note
This is a VF-graded 50 Rupees banknote from 1965, issued by the Central Bank of Ceylon during a significant period of post-independence nation-building. The note features an elegant portrait of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike on the obverse and architectural imagery from Polonnaruwa on the reverse, with tri-lingual inscriptions reflecting Ceylon's multilingual character. The intaglio printing quality is evident in the crisp mandala-like decorative elements and fine line work, demonstrating the skilled craftsmanship of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.
Common. The 1965 50 Rupees (Pick 65c) from Ceylon's early post-independence period was issued in significant quantities across the 1961-1965 printing span. Notes from this series remain relatively available on the numismatic market, and VF examples are regularly encountered, indicating substantial surviving circulation numbers. No evidence suggests limited print runs, special recall, or extraordinary scarcity.
This 1965 note was issued during the tenure of the Central Bank of Ceylon, representing the monetary authority of an independent Sri Lanka in its early post-colonial period. The obverse portrait of Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike honors Ceylon's first Prime Minister (serving 1956-1959), a pivotal nationalist figure. The reverse depicts architectural elements from Ratnagiri Vatadage in Polonnaruwa, an ancient Buddhist heritage site, emphasizing the new nation's connection to its historical and cultural roots during a period of identity consolidation.
The obverse features a formal profile portrait of Prime Minister Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike facing left, positioned on the right side of the note. The dominant design element is an intricate ornamental mandala-like circular motif in the center-left, executed in pink, green, and blue with elaborate geometric and floral patterns typical of South Asian artistic traditions. The denomination '50' appears in both top corners with 'FIFTY RUPEES' text on the left margin. The reverse depicts architectural details from the 12th-century Ratnagiri Vatadage (Moon Stone monastery) in Polonnaruwa, showing ornate carved decorative beams and elements, alongside a large circular ornamental design. Tri-lingual text in English, Sinhala, and Tamil appears throughout, reflecting Ceylon's post-independence commitment to linguistic inclusivity.
FRONT SIDE: '50' (denomination in numerals), 'FIFTY RUPEES' (English denomination), 'S 52 49678' (serial number). BACK SIDE: '50' (denomination in numerals, top corners), 'ශ්රී ලංකා මහ බැංකුව' (Sinhala: 'Central Bank of Sri Lanka'), 'ஜம்பாது ஈபோய' (Tamil: 'Central Bank'), 'FIFTY RUPEES' (English denomination), 'ඉතිහාස පරිස්ස' (Sinhala: approximately 'Historical/Heritage preservation'), 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO LTD NEW MALDEN, SURREY, ENGLAND' (English printer attribution).
Intaglio printing (engraved), produced by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd of New Malden, Surrey, England—one of the world's premier security printers. Visual evidence includes crisp, finely-detailed line work in the decorative patterns, sharp registration of the mandala design, and the characteristic depth and precision of intaglio-printed security features including dual serial numbers. The fine line patterns throughout serve both aesthetic and anti-counterfeiting purposes.
The serial number observed (S 52 49678) indicates the 'S 52' prefix variety. Pick 65c represents the third identified variety of the 1965 50 Rupees note. Banknote varieties from this series are primarily distinguished by signature combinations and serial number prefixes. The noted example's prefix 'S 52' should be documented for variety cataloging purposes, though specific prefix rarity assessments require comprehensive population studies of surviving examples.
