India Paper Money Collection


© Copyright 1995-2014, Clay Irving <clay@panix.com>, Manhattan Beach, CA

India Notes

[ Last Update: Saturday, 01-Feb-2014 13:20:30 EST ]

In addition to the Pick# used throughout the collection, the catalog code from Indian Paper Money Guidebook 2009 (1770-2008) is also indicated.

Staple holes:
Perfect uncirculated notes are rarely found without having at least two tiny holes on the left side of the note made by staples, stick pins, or stitching having been done during age old accounting practices before and after a note is released to circulation. Staples were officially discontinued in 1998.

Republic of India

Reserve Bank of India

First Series

P31 / B-6 - 2 Rupees
Front: Value in English with Ashoka column at right
Back: Denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: P.C. Bhattacharyya, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from March 1962 to June 1967
Size: 114 x 64 mm

P37b / D-3 - 10 Rupees
Front: Ashoka column at right
Back: Sailing dhow, denomination in 7 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: Sir B. Rama Rue, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from July 1949 to 1957
Size: 1467 x 83 mm


Second Series

P51 / B-8 - 2 Rupees
Front: Numeral "2" at center, Ashoka column at right
Back: Tiger at center, denomination in 13 regional languages and the Urdu version is incorrect
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: L. K. Jha, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from July 1967 to May 1970
Size: 107 x 63 mm

P53f / B-17 - 2 Rupees
Front: "C" inset (visible under the serial number), Ashoka column at right
Back: Tiger at center
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: I. G. Patel, Special Secretary Ministry of Finance
Size: 107 x 63 mm

P53Ac / B-21 - 2 Rupees
Front: "A" inset (barely visible under the serial number), Ashoka column at right
Back: Tiger at center
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: R.N. Malhotra, Governor of the Reverse Bank of India from February 1985 to December 1990
Size: 107 x 63 mm

P54b / C-9 - 5 Rupees
Front: Numeral "5" at center 11 mm high, Ashoka column at right
Back: at center, denomination in 13 regional languages and the Urdu version is incorrect
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: S. Jaganathan, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from May 1970 to June 1970
Size: 117 x 63 mm

P55 / C-12 - 5 Rupees
Front: Numeral "5" at center 17 mm high, Ashoka column at right
Back: Antelop at center, denomination in 13 regional languages and the Urdu version is incorrect
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: L. K. Jha, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from July 1967 to May 1970
Size: 117 x 63 mm

P57a / D-9 - 10 Rupees
Front: Numeral "10" at center 30 mm wide x 17 mm high, Ashoka column at right
Back: Dhow at center, denomination in 13 regional languages and the Urdu version is incorrect
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: P.C. Bhattacharyya, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from March 1962 to June 1967
Size: 137 x 63 mm

P60Aa / D-28 - 10 Rupees
Front: Numeral "10" at center 18 mm wide x 17 mm high, Ashoka column at right
Back: Dhow at center, denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: R.N. Malhotra, Governor of the Reverse Bank of India from February 1985 to December 1990
Size: 137 x 63 mm


1969 Commemorative Issue for the Centennial of the Birth of Mahatma Gandhi

P66 / A-21 - 1 Rupee
Front: Plain inset, Large ornamental numeral "1" at center, obverse side of 1 Rupee Gandhi commemorative coin at righti, Signature 82 (Special Secretary Ministry of Finance I.G. Patel)
Back: Reverse of Gandhi coin at left, denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: Dr. I.G. Patel, Finance Secretary of India from 1968 to 1972
Size: 97 x 63 mm

P67a / B-9 - 2 Rupees
Front: Numeral "2" at center, Ashoka column at right
Back: Mahatma Gandhi seated at center in prayer with background of Ashram, denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: L. K. Jha, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from July 1967 to May 1970
Size: 107 x 63 mm

P68a / C-10 - 5 Rupees
Front: Numeral "5" at center 17 mm high, Ashoka column at right
Back: Mahatma Gandhi seated at center in prayer with background of Ashram, denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: L. K. Jha, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from July 1967 to May 1970
Size: 117 x 63 mm

P69a / D-12 - 10 Rupees
Front: Numeral "10" at center, Ashoka column at right
Back: Mahatma Gandhi seated at center, denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Signature: L. K. Jha, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from July 1967 to May 1970
Size: 138 x 63 mm


Government of India

Reserve Bank of India

1957; 1963 Issue

P75e / A-11 - 1 Rupee
Front: "C" inset, 1957 issue of coin with Ashoka column at right
Back: Reverse of coin at left, denomination in 7 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: L.K. Jha, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from July 1967 to May 1970
Size: 101 x 64 mm

P77f / A-22 - 1 Rupee
Front: "C" inset, 1969 issue of coin with Ashoka column at right
Back: Reverse of coin at left, denomination in 7 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: Dr. I.G. Patel, Finance Secretary of India from 1968 to 1972
Size: 97 x 63 mm

P78A / A-45 - 1 Rupee
Front: Plain inset, 1983 issue of new coin with Ashoka column at right
Back: Reverse of coin at left, offshore oil drilling platform, denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: Pratap Kishen Kaul
Size: 96 x 63 mm

P78Ab / A-54 - 1 Rupee
Front: "B" inset, 1990 issue of coin with Ashoka column at right
Back: Reverse of coin at left, offshore oil drilling platform, denomination in 13 regional languages
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: Bimal Jalan, 1997-
Size: 96 x 63 mm


Third Series

P79h / B-34 - 2 Rupees
Front: "A" inset, Ashoka column at right
Back: Space and orbitting satellite at center
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: R.N. Malhotra, Governor of the Reverse Bank of India from February 1985 to December 1990
Size: 107 x 63 mm

P80o / C-29 - 5 Rupees
Front: Ashoka column at right
Back: Farmer plowing with tractor at center
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: R.N. Malhotra, Governor of the Reverse Bank of India from February 1985 to December 1990
Size: 117 x 63 mm

P84i / F-13 - 50 Rupees
Front: "B" inset, Ashoka column at right, denomination in 13 regional languages at the center left
Back: Parliament House with full flag unfurled on its dome at left center
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: R.N. Malhotra, Governor of the Reverse Bank of India from February 1985 to December 1990
Size: 147 x 73 mm


1992 Issue

P88a / D-39 - 10 Rupees
Front: Ashokah column at right
Back: Scene of Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir at center
Watermark: Ashokan Pillar
Signature: S. Venkitaramanan, Governor of the Reverse Bank of India from November 1997
Size: 137 x 63 mm


1996-2002 ND Issue

P90f / F-19 - 50 Rupees
Front: Large portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at right, bilingual and ornamental "50" in the center, Guilloche print supplemented by floral motifs all over the front and back, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) seal at lower right, Ashoka column with "Satyameva Jayate" at lower left, "A" inset (letter "A" in underprint at top right), the colored security raised square on the left is said to be in Braille language for the blind
Back: Parliament House with full flag unfurled on its dome at left center, denomination in 15 regional languages at left
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Signature: Bimal Jalan, 1997-
Size: 138 x 73 mm

P91i / G-37 - 100 Rupees
Front: "F" Inset (letter "F" in underprint at top right), Mahatma Gandhi at right, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) seal at lower right, Ashoka column with "Satyameva Jayate" at lower left, segmented foil over security thread, the colored security raised triangle on the left is said to be in Braille language for the blind
Back: Himalaya mountains at left center, denomination in 15 regional languages at left
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Signature: Bimal Jalan, 1997-
Size: 156 x 73 mm


2005; 2006 Issue

P95c / D-60 - 10 Rupees, 2008
Front: Mahatma Gandhi at right, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) seal at lower right, Ashoka column with "Satyameva Jayate" at lower left
Back: Figures of rhino, elephant, and Bengal tiger, denomination in 15 regional languages at left, number "10" in three corners
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Signature: Dr. Y.V. Reddy
Size: 137 x 63 mm

P96c / E-20 - 20 Rupees, 2008
Front: "E" inset (letter "E" in underprint of serial number at lower left and upper right) Mahatma Gandhi at right, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) seal at lower right, Ashoka column with "Satyameva Jayate" at lower left
Back: Coconut trees, denomination in 15 regional languages at left, number "10" in three corners
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Signature: Dr. Y.V. Reddy
Size: 148 x 63 mm

P99c / H-28 - 500 Rupees, 2008
Front: "R" inset (letter "R" in underprint of serial number at lower left and upper right) Mahatma Gandhi at right, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) seal at lower right, Ashoka column with "Satyameva Jayate" at lower left
Back: Gandhi marching ahead followed by men, women, and children. Denomination in 15 regional languages at left, number "500" in three corners
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Signature: Dr. Y.V. Reddy
Size: 167 x 73 mm

P100 / J-14 - 1000 Rupees, 2006
Front: "L" inset (letter "L" in underprint of serial number at lower left and upper right) Mahatma Gandhi at right, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) seal at lower right, Ashoka column with "Satyameva Jayate" at lower left
Back: Images of Indian economy, denomination in 15 regional languages at left, number "1000" in three corners
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Signature: Dr. Y.V. Reddy
Size: 177 x 73 mm


2008 Issue

P-NEW / C-41 - 5 Rupees, 2008
Front: Mahatma Gandhi at right, RBI (Reserve Bank of India) seal at lower right, Ashoka column with "Satyameva Jayate" at lower left
Back: Farmer plowing with tractor at center, denomination in 15 regional languages at left, number "5" in three corners
Watermark: Mahatma Gandhi
Size: 117x 63 mm