British India Banknotes | Historical Banknote Collection

About British India Currency

British India, also known as the British Raj, encompassed present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma). The Indian Rupee was the official currency, issued by the Government of India and later the Reserve Bank of India (established 1935).

The banknotes from 1945-1947 feature King George VI and represent the final issues of the British period. These notes are distinguished by their detailed engravings, multilingual text panels, and distinctive watermarks.

After independence in 1947, these notes continued to circulate for some time before being replaced by new issues featuring the Ashoka Lion Capital. British India banknotes are highly prized by collectors worldwide for their historical significance and beautiful craftsmanship.

1861

First Paper Currency

1947

Independence

Collection Items

1 Rupee - King George VI (Coin Note)

Denomination:	1 Rupee
Year:	1945
Issuer:	Government of India
Design:	George VI coin image
Colour:	Green
Condition:	Extremely Fine (EF)

The 1 Rupee note was issued by the Government of India rather than the Reserve Bank. It features a circular design showing the image of a 1 Rupee coin with King George VI's portrait. This compact note was widely used in everyday transactions.

5 Rupees - King George VI (Side Facing)

Denomination:	5 Rupees
Year:	1945
Issuer:	Reserve Bank of India
Portrait:	King George VI (profile)
Signed by:	C.D. Deshmukh
Condition:	Very Fine (VF)

This note features King George VI's profile portrait facing right. The reverse shows an antelope (blackbuck) which was a common motif on Indian currency. Text appears in multiple Indian languages.

10 Rupees - King George VI (Elephant Design)

Denomination:	10 Rupees
Year:	1945
Issuer:	Reserve Bank of India
Portrait:	King George VI
Reverse Design:	Two elephants with mahouts
Condition:	About Uncirculated (AU)

The iconic 10 Rupees note features two elephants being ridden by their mahouts (elephant handlers) on the reverse. The watermark shows King George VI's profile. Printed at the Nasik printing facility.

100 Rupees - King George VI (Tiger)

Denomination:	100 Rupees
Year:	1946
Issuer:	Reserve Bank of India
Portrait:	King George VI (front facing)
Reverse Design:	Bengal Tiger
Condition:	Fine (F)

The high denomination 100 Rupees note features a Bengal Tiger on the reverse, symbolizing the majesty of India's wildlife. This front-facing portrait series was introduced in 1943 and continued until independence.

2 Rupees - King George VI

Denomination:	2 Rupees
Year:	1945
Issuer:	Government of India
Design:	Portrait medallion
Colour:	Red-brown
Condition:	Very Fine (VF)

The 2 Rupees note, like the 1 Rupee, was issued by the Government of India rather than the Reserve Bank. It features a portrait medallion of King George VI and was a popular denomination for everyday commerce.

Currency Issuers

Government of India

The Government of India issued lower denomination notes of 1 Rupee and 2 Rupees, sometimes called "coin notes" because of their small size and the coin imagery used on the 1 Rupee note.

These notes were signed by officials from the Ministry of Finance and remained in use well after independence.

Reserve Bank of India

Established in 1935, the Reserve Bank of India took over the issuance of higher denomination notes (5 Rupees and above). The RBI notes featured more elaborate designs including wildlife scenes.

Notable RBI Governors who signed the final British India notes include C.D. Deshmukh and J.B. Taylor.

Multilingual Text Panels

British India banknotes are notable for their inclusion of text in multiple Indian languages. The 10 Rupees and higher denomination notes typically include the denomination written in eight Indian languages: Hindi, Bengali, Burmese (for notes circulating in Burma), Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, and Kannada. This reflected the linguistic diversity of the British Raj.