Charles Ernest Jones signed one rupee notes?

 By Dr. Nilaish 

It was a mystery to locate the signatory of 1940 dated but issued 1944 one rupee notes. These notes were signed by Sir Charles Ernest Jones (C.E. Jones) (1892 - 1953). He served in Ceylon Civil Service for a long time and then joined as Secretary to the Treasury. 

Sir Charles Ernest Jones 

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia. 

Jones finished B.Sc. from University of London in 1913 and joined Ceylon Civil Service on 28 November 1914. He also became member of Asiatic Society in 1917. Gradually, he paved his path to join as Controller of Exchange, Imports and Exports. He replaced Harold James Huxham in 1942 as Finance Secretrary of Ceylon. He was also acting Financial Secretrary of India. However, we need some documentary evidence to establish his period? 

My claim is based on the signature on Indian notes and Ceylon notes which is same. Take a look! It is probable that he signed Indian notes too? Still needs to be investigated. I believe that he also signed Indian notes with slappy signature running diagonally. 

Check signature of C.E. Jones on this Ceylon one rupee notes. 

C.E. Jones signature on Indian one rupee notes.

 

British Indian Currency Notes in Indian films

By Nilaish 

Film: Awara (1951)

Currency Notes Shown: 1944 King George VI 100 Rupees, 10 Rupees, etc. 

Film: Kanooru Heggadithi (1999) - Kannada 

Currency Shown: King George VI 100 Rupees halves. 

Film: Kanooru Heggadithi (1999) - Kannada 

Currency Shown: King George V, 1925 - 10 Rupees, signed by H. Denning. 

Film: Phillauri (2017) 

Currency Shown: King George V 100 Rupees. 

Film: Rang Rasiya (2008, 2014)

Currency Shown: Uniface series Five Hundred and Five Rupees. 

Film: Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010) 

Currency Shown: King George V 50 Rupees. 

Film: Lingaa (2014) - Tamil. 

Currency Shown: King George V Rupees 10, 50, 1000. 

Film: Devdas (2002) 

Currency Shown: King George V 1000 Rupees

Film: Desh Premee (1982) 

Currency Shown: RBI, ca. 1975 1000 Rupees. 

Film: Rustom (2016) 

Currency Shown: RBI, ca. 1954, Rs. 10,000 notes. 

Timeline of Indian Paper Money

Compiled by
Nilaish
Mem. IBNS, L.M. (IBNS-IBCC)



Early Paper of India: Presidency Banks Issues 
(1800-1860) 

ca. 1791 - General Bank of Bengal and Behar (Bihar) hand sketch of C.N. Cooke (Accountant of Bank of Bengal (1863). Promissory Note Contemplation.

1806 - Bank of Calcutta was formed in Bengal Presidency. It may have issued notes but essays were made recorded by Symes (1904). No information beyond this is known.

1810 - Bank of Bengal (1809) designed promissory notes, earliest recorded date is 1812. These notes were uniface series (1812-1822). The last date recorded of this type is 1819. Gold Mohur notes were issued in Aug. 1816. One gold mohur = 16 sicca Rupees.

1823-56 - Bank of Bengal issued promissory notes with vignette of personified maiden sitting by the quay with articles of merchandise called, 'COMMERCE SERIES'. There are some varieties in the types. [Image Courtesy: Todywalla]. The notes were denominated in 'Sicca Rupees' and later by 1836 changed to 'Company's Rupees' and followed till 1856.

1840 - Bank of Bombay was formed. The recorded dates of its promissory notes are 1851, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1859, 1860. The notes were signed by John Stuart and James Blair.

1843 - Bank of Madras was founded. The recorded dates of its promissory notes are, 1845, 1849, 1851. The notes were signed by Robert Hunter (Secretary & Treasurer).

1857 - Bank of Bengal issues Britannia series [above]. It was issued by Major William Erskine in the early 1857 at Sauger.

Government of India 
UNIFACE SERIES 
(1861-1926) 

Image Courtesy: Rezwan Razack 

1861 - New Currency act was passed. The presidency banks and private banks were halted to issue notes by law. Currency department was formed to take over notes issued in provinces. The term used for the first time is, 'Currency Notes'. Controller of Currency issued notes. First series were Queen Victoria portrait issues [see above].  Notes were issued in denominations, Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000. Soon forgeries were made [see below] and it required to change the design.

Rs. 100 forged note was held in court against a forger in 1869. 

1871 - Uniface designs with green underprint were issued [see image]. Five Rupees notes were issued for the first time. The denominations issued were Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 500, Rs. 1000 and Rs. 10,000. 

Earliest five rupee note known dating to 24 June 1871 signed by F. Lushington.

Image Courtesy: Rezwan Razack 

Ten Rupees dating to 15 Aug 1904 signed by A.F. Cox [Serial number RA/16 85548]. 

Private Collection: Nilaish

1910 - Uniface designs with red underprint were issued [see image]. The Rs. 10 notes were universalized. 

Ten Rupees dating 4 Oct 1919 signed by MMS Gubbay 

 1917 - One Rupee notes were issued 31 Nov 1917. This is the first time that India observes one rupee notes issued. The first series were issued in booklets and wrapped in brown ribbon with a count of 25 notes. The notes were signed by MMS Gubbay, AC McWatters and H. Denning. 

1918 - Two Rupees Eight Annas notes were issued. 

1925 - First series of King George V portrait series notes were issued for Rs. 10. 

1927 - Second Series of King George V portrait series were issued for Rs. 5, Rs. 10. 

ca. 1930 - Third series of portrait notes were issued. 

WORK IN PROGRESS. 

Portrait Notes of King George V issued by Indian Government back in 1917 onwards

By Nilaish

"This was the beginning of pictorial notes in the right sense, notes became dramatically beautiful!"

Currency Note Press at Nashik was inaugrated on 14 April 1928 and soon it started printing currency notes of India. Still some notes were printed by Bank of England Press as earlier they were printed there. The King George V was depicted in royal robes on the obverse of the notes having denomination Re. 1(1917,  dated 1935 issued on 1940), Rs. 2/8 (1918-1927), Rs, 5 (1925, 1933), Rs. 10 (1923, 1925, 1933), Rs. 50 (1930), Rs. 100 (1927), Rs. 1000 (1931), Rs. 10,000 (1931).

ONE RUPEE 

1917 Issue, there are 3 signature varieties 

One Rupee dated 1935, Issued in 1940, there are four varieties pertaining to design, watermark, paper, serial number pattern. 

TWO RUPEES AND EIGHT ANNAS 

Issued in 1918 and withdrawn in 1927. This denomination was equivalent to a dollar of that time. 

FIVE RUPEES 

Five Rupees with two signatures. H. Denning, J.B. Taylor 

1933 Issue was with two signatures, J.W. Kelly and J.B. Taylor 

TEN RUPEES 

Ten Rupees, issued with two signatures; H. Denning, AC McWatters. 

Ten Rupees, 2nd Issue with two signatures, H. Denning and J.B. Taylor. 

10 Rupees, J.W. Kelly and J.B. Taylor signed these notes. 

FIFTY RUPEES 

50 Rupees, Signed by H. Denning and J.B. Tyalor 

Image Courtesy: Spink 

100 RUPEES 

100 Rupees, signed by J.W. Kelly, J.B. Taylor and H. Denning 

1000 RUPEES 

1000 Rupees, J.B. Taylor and J.W. Kelly 

Specimen, Image Courtesy: Anonymous 

10,000 RUPEES 

10,000 Rupees, signed by J.B. Taylor and J.W. Kelly, 

Image Courtesy: Rezwan Razack 

Top Ten Rare Banknotes of India

By Nilaish

"Paper money is fragile and when used a lot, loses it's life but collecting them is even a great challenge!" 


It is known from various catalouges [1] and [2] that, Indian paper money originated in 19th Century from Bengal Presidency. Bank of Hindostan and Bank of Bengal were the earliest banks in the presidency who issued paper money.

The earliest year of issue of Bank of Bengal is 1812. However, notes were issued since 1770 but there is no evidence to support these claims. Indian paper money is divided into roughly four periods, a) East India Company Period (1800-1860), b) British Government of India Issues (1861-1936), c) Reserve Bank of India British Issues (1937-1947) and d) Republic India RBI Issues (1949- ).

In the following list, I will pick up some of my personal favourites which are exceedingly rare currency notes of India. The price is not the guiding factor solely for this ranking. One may reshuffle and consider them ... as you wish....funny thing... Money!

Number 10: RBI 100 Rupees George VI Portrait - Front Facing Watermark 

Image Courtesy: Rezwan Razack 

Reserve Bank of India, 100 Rupees, ca. 1944, Bombay, signed by C.D. Deshmukh, watermark: front facing profile of King George VI, serial number in black. There are two varieties in serial number pattern of this type, i) Black serial and ii) Green Serial (Kanpur). It can command as high as Rs. 500,000 in this grade. 

Number 9: RBI 100 Rupees HAJ Issue 

Image Courtesy: Numismondo.net 

Reserve Bank of India, 100 Rupees, Haj pilgrims issue, red orange in colour and two elephants in the reverse. This is a rare note and can command as high as Rs. 10,00,000. 

Number 8: RBI 1000 Rupees 1938 Issue 

Image Courtesy: Spink

Reserve Bank of India, 1000 Rupees, Calcutta, Signed by J.B. Taylor (2nd Governor of RBI). To get a note higher than the illustrated grade is a challenge! This note was sold for GBP 3,600. 

Number 7: Government of India 100 Rupees Rangoon Issue 

Image Courtesy: Numispedia 

Government of India, 100 Rupees, Rangoon, ca. 1934, signed by J.B. Taylor, rare. 

The notes issued for Rangoon circle having George V portrait are generally scarce to rare. One may consider the Rs. 1000 note having portrait of George V with Burma ovpt. (LEGAL TENDER IN BURMA ONLY). If we talk about this 100 Rupees note's worth then we are looking to fetch upto Rs. 3,50,000 or even higher! 

Number 6: Rupees Two and Annas Eight Note! 

Government of India, Rs. 2/8 (Rs. 2.5), Rangoon, signed by MMS Gubbay, ca. 1918, rare. The two rupees and eight annas notes are peculiar issue are very valuable. Government of India never issued this denomination since it was withdrawn in 1927. This denomination was issued to convert one dollar during the first world war. There were different circles who issued notes among them rare circle notes are, Rangoon, Lahore, Karachi and Cawnpore. A perfect example was auctioned by Todywalla Auctions recently for Rs. 6,50,000 + premium. 

Number 5: George V 50 Rupees Issue 

Government of India, 50 Rupees, Bombay, ca. 1930, signed by J.B. Taylor, rare. 

Valued depending on condition and circle of issue lies between Rs. 3,00,000-6,00,000. 

Number 4: RBI 5000 Rupees 

Image Courtesy: Spink

RBI, 5000 Rupees, Bombay, signed by B.Rama Rau, ca. 1954, rare. 

This note can be worth as much as Rs. 15,00,000. 

Number 3: RBI 10,000 Rupees issued in 1954 

Image Courtesy: Spink 

RBI, 10,000 Rupees, Bombay, signed by BRama Rau, ca. 1954, rare. 

This note was auctioned by Spink in 2012 for GBP 21,000+ 

Number 2: George V Rs. 10,000 note! 

Image Courtesy: Rezwan Razack 

Government of India, Rs. 10,000, Calcutta, ca. 1930, Signed by J.W. Kelly, issued note with serial number Z/1 132982. Unique example. 

Number 1: RBI 1938 Rs. 10,000 first issue 

Image Courtesy: Rezwan Razack 

RBI, Rs. 10,000 Rupees, Lahore, signed by J.B. Taylor, issued note with serial number A/2 010613, rare. Unique example. Any circle issue of this type is a rare accomplishment. Truly remarkable. 

References

[1] Albert Pick, 1994, Standard Reference Guide to World Paper Money, Krause Publication, USA. 

[2] Rezwan Razack, Kishore Jhunjhunwalla; 2012, The revised standard reference guide to Indian Paper Money, Currencies & Coins, Munbai.