Nilaish Banknotes World

"Collecting rare banknotes is a lifelong obsession for many collectors of paper money, it is utter shame to neglect the rare notes which forms the foundation of Indian Numismatics." Nilaish Sharma, F.R.N.S., M.B.A., Esq.  Proprietor, BIDS & WINS Enterprise  Fellow of Royal Numismatic Society  I have been collecting Indian Paper Money since 1999. Earlier ca. 1999, I was interested only in 1 Rupee notes which later transformed into a very obsessive whole new field called, Indian Paper Money! I was only a collector of ordinary nature back then, came across the notes with cut note dealers in Patna, which later fastened my visit to SPINK, London in 2011 for the first time. All these years grabbing the finest opportunity to meet renowned collectors and Auction companies was my fortunate luck. I was surprised to notice that only few collectors of Indian Paper Money fall into the category of early paper money of India (1800-1861). Rest others consume their capacit...

Commercial Bank of India, ca. 1845, 5 Rupees, unissued banknote into two halves  Image Curtsey: Archives International Auction (USA)  The above 5 Rupees banknote of Commercial Bank of India torn into two halves was sold by Archives International Auction (USA) for US$ 5000 ! This banknote was sold on 4th June 2004 through online auction. There are only two denominations known of this banknotes, one is 5 Rupees and 10 Rupees (Razack et al. 2012). These notes were printed by Batho & Bingley, Lombard St., London. It appears that a very few banknotes have survived, out of which two to three banknotes are noticed so far. A very rare Indian banknote indeed!

Nilaish, MBA Fellow of Royal Numismatic Society Introduction             Indian early paper money is known since 1770 A.D. but there is no example known till today before 1812 A.D. Several private and presidency banks regulated the currency norms in Indian economy between 1810 and 1861 A.D. The Governor General of India in 1809-10, Lord Gilbert Minto granted Royal Charter to Bank of Bengal as Presidency Bank of the Bengal Presidency. Thus, the trend of semi governmental banking system evolved in India. Later Bombay and Madras Presidency also founded Bank of Bombay and Bank of Madras in 1840 and 1843 respectively. Out of three, Bank of Bengal was the earliest semi-government bank which issued currency notes in the province. All three banks and with some private banks of India first in history witnessed the fabric of Indian Paper Money. The earliest currency notes were denominated in ‘Sicca Rupees’ moving to Company’s Rupe...