Historical Banknote Collection

Exploring the rich numismatic heritage of colonial and post-colonial currencies from 1945 onwards

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Welcome to My Collection

This website showcases my personal collection of historical banknotes from five fascinating regions: Portugal, Portuguese India, French India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and British India.

Each banknote tells a story of colonial history, artistic design, and economic development during the post-World War II era. These currencies represent a significant period of transition as many of these regions moved towards independence.

As a numismatist, I have carefully curated this collection to highlight the unique characteristics and historical significance of each piece.

Banknote collection display

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Portugal Banknotes
Portugal

Escudo banknotes featuring Portuguese explorers and national heroes from the post-war period.

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Portuguese India Banknotes
Portuguese India

Rupia and Escudo notes from Goa, Daman, and Diu issued by Banco Nacional Ultramarino.

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French India Banknotes
French India

Rupee notes from Pondicherry and other French territories in India.

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Ceylon Banknotes
Ceylon

Rupee banknotes from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) during the transition to independence.

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British India Banknotes
British India

Government of India and Reserve Bank notes featuring King George VI portraits.

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About This Collection

Learn more about the history of numismatics and why I started collecting these historical currencies.

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Historical Context

The period following World War II (1945 onwards) marked a significant era of change for many colonial territories. India gained independence in 1947, Ceylon in 1948, and French India was transferred between 1950-1954. Portuguese India remained under Portuguese control until 1961.

The banknotes from this era reflect these transitions, with changing designs, issuing authorities, and denominations that mirror the political and economic changes of the time.

5

Regions

1945+

Era Focus

25+

Banknotes

3

Currencies