Thursday, May 28, 2009

King George VI Rupee 1 - India Banknotes - India Paper Money – India Currency


King George VI – Rupee 1 – C. E. Jones
British India

India Banknotes  - India Paper Money – India Currency

 

The Rupee 1 King George VI Portrait note was first issued in 1944 and was in circulation till it was withdrawn on 27th October 1957. 

 

It was for the first time that an inset and in this case “A” was used in an Indian Bank Note.  The series commenced with Prefix ‘A 0’ and the ended with ‘Z 99’ with the exclusion of Prefix ‘I’ & ‘O’.  The notes issued in this series had serial numbers in black.


PREFIX ‘A’ BLACK SERIAL NUMBER – FIRST SERIES


PREFIX ‘Z’ BLACK SERIAL NUMBER – FIRST SERIES

When this series was complete, the new series again began with Prefix ‘A 0’ and ended with ‘W 99’, with the exclusion of Prefix ‘I’ & ‘O’.  This series was with serial numbers in Green.


PREFIX ‘A’ GREEN SERIAL NUMBER INSET ‘A’


PREFIX ‘W’ GREEN SERIAL NUMBER INSET ‘A’

 

However, there were complaints by the users that the Green Serial Numbers were fading.  Hence, there was a split in Prefix ‘W’, where the Serial Number changed from Green to Black.  The exact split in Prefix from Green to Black is to be determined.  However, you will find Prefix ‘W’ with Serial Number in Black upto ‘W 99’ as the whole ‘W’ series was issued.  There were no further issues of Rupee 1 beyond Prefix ‘W’, by which time Indian had got its Independence.


 PREFIX ‘W’ BLACK SERIAL NUMBER INSET ‘A’

However, there is also King George VI Portrait Note of Rupee 1 that has serial numbers in Red.  The reason for the serial number in Red was because it was issued after 15th August 1947.   The note with Serial Number in Red had a single Prefix ‘D’ only.



PREFIX ‘D’ RED SERIAL NUMBER

  

All notes issued by Govt. of India and the Reserve Bank upto 1947 were tenable currency till they were demonetized or withdrawn from circulation on 27th October 1957.