The Chartered Mercantile Bank
of India, London & China
Ceylon Branch - 185x - Kandy

After receiving its Royal Charter on 1857 September 15 The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London & China it issued notes within months at its initial branches, Colombo & Kandy in Ceylon. This note was printed in 185x with an Engraving with Brittania by Batho & Co London before being replaced in 1864 by Perkins Bacon & Petch, London Royal Arms.

Denomination: 10 Shillings
Note Color: Green
Overprint Color: Grey
English : Ten Shillings
Sinhala : රුපියල් පහයි
: පවුඬ් බාගයයි
Thamil : ரூபாய் ஐந்து
: அரைப் பவுண்ட்
Size : 196 x 111 mm
Date : ___ 18__
Status : Remainder
Pick-lk Unlisted

Front : On a decorated rectangular wide border centered on top CEYLON BRANCH, and circular in square designs in four corners and a shell at bottom middle. 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. Below Small Text Batho & Co on left and London on right. On either side numeric TEN SHILLINGS in decorate above No ##### . Below KANDY on left, and ____ 18__ on right.
THE CHARTERED MERCANTILE BANK OF INDIA, LONDON & CHINA Promises to pay bearer on demand at its Branch at KANDY in the Currency of the Island TEN SHILLINGS Value recd
Below By Order of the Directors above in one line Entd _____ AccountTt ______ MANAGER
Value as large word TEN in background in unknown color.
Back : Elongated Guilloch patern at center with text CHARTERD above and MERCANTILE BANK OF INDIA in middle and LONDON & CHINA below.
In small text just below Guilloch Batho & Co London WaterMark : None on HSBC Remainder Printed : Batho & Co London.

Art design has lot in common with the Ceylon Government Treasury Notes of 1850.
This Currency reminder has the value in vernacular languages Sinhala and Thamil, which has almost always been shown on all Currency issues since 1785, but not seen on 5s Proof note.
After charter the notes were signed by By Order of the Court of Directors and that modification has not been done on even on this remainder.

I thank Claire Twinn, Global Functions Archives Manager, HSBC Holdings PLC, London for sending me in 2020 February, the image of the Specimen 5 Shilling note from the HSBC Collection. Reproduced with the permission of HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC Archives) Reduced image to 200 dpi and displayed at 50 dpi.