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Pick-lk S131 |
Front : On a decorated rectangular wide border centered on
top CEYLON BRANCH. Within border on top Center, Helmeted
Britannia(Queen Boudica) seated facing forward, Spear pointed up in
right hand Shield with Union Jack in her left hand with crown on top,
Anchor, two packages and steam boat with sails down with mountain
behind to right. Sailing Ship, package, bale, sleeping lion, Caduceus
and coconut palm on right. Small Batho & Co
London below. Small denomination vertical
සිලින්
පහයි in Sinhala on left and
ஐந்து
ஷீலீன் in Thamil on Right.
On either side numeric 5 SHILLINGS in decorate above
No ##### .
Below COLOMBO on left, and
____ 18__ on right.
THE MERCANTILE BANK OF INDIA, LONDON & CHINA
Promises to pay bearer on demand at its Branch in
COLOMBO in the Currency of the Island FIVE
SHILLINGS value recd
Below By
Order of the Directors above in one line
Entd _____
ACCTt ______ MANAGER
Value as
large word FIVE in background in light Blue.
Signed with
vertical hand Stamp ISSUED AT KANDY. in center.
Back : Blank ?
WaterMark : Probabaly None, but need to confirm
Printed : Batho & Co London.
Size : From Kandy Note from HSBC Archive,
The Sinhala and Thamil have probably also been hand stamped as they are not aligned exactly. This would explain their absence in the Kandy Proof
Art design has lot in common with the Ceylon Government Treasury Notes of 1850 but excluding the Elephant. Same engraving used in Hong Kong.
Scanned Image from Auction Catalog at estimated 288 dpi displayed at 50 dpi.
Text from Spink Auction
2011 April
of 19th Century Ceylon Notes.