Government Of Ceylon
WWII Pattern 25 cent notes of 14th July 1942

14th July 1942 issue, of 25 cents Fractional rupee currency note issued during the WWII metal shortage.

The Two Pattern issues printed in the Currency Note Press (CNP) a division of the India Security Press (ISP), Nasik have the 0/00 000000 serial number in the peculiar font that was unique to the CNP. They are both signed and dated but not over printed with SPECIMEN Since they are different from the note issued they are patterns.

1942_25c_gvi_dp_front 1942_25c_gvi_dp_back
Brown and Multicolour Pattern Specimen Note of different layout.
Dated and Signed. Not Issued.
Unique note design with portrait on right.
1942_25c_gvi_cp_front 1942_25c_gvi_cp_back
Green and Multicolour Pattern Specimen (Colour Trial ?).
Dated and Signed. Not Issued.
Metal clip used to File Specimen with a document has stained note.
1942_25c_gvi_front 1942_25c_gvi_back
Circulated Note as Issued of same date of two Patterns above.

Front : Brown and Multicolour.
The portrait of His Majesty King George VI at center, the words TWENTY FIVE CENTS on either side. The value 25c in figures at angle on the top two corners on either side of THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON in 2 lines. Just below the words in 3 lines continued on both side of portrait THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR PAYMENT OF AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING FIVE RUPEES. Date 14th July 1942 on left in 2 lines, and 2 signatures H. J. Huxham & C. H. Collins of COMMISSIONERS OF CURRENCY on right. The value ශත විසිපහ in Sinhala on left, and இருபத்தைந்து சதம் in Thamil on right.
Back : Blank except for Serial Number.

The Notes are 4 x 2 inches, printed on paper with no watermark.

I find it interesting that despite the war the Currency Board of Ceylon did spend the time to design the note and select it's colour, particularly since this 14TH JULY 1942 date is of the second issue of 25 cent fractional note which was first issued with 1ST FEBRUARY 1942 date.

The lower denomination 10 cent Note has portrait at center. The higher denomination 50 cent and all other Ceylon currency notes of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth have the portrait on left. The 25 cent Pattern above is unique in having portrait on right.

This Patterns are so far unpublished. I remember a specimen in the Currency Museum which was in poor condition after many years of open display.

The notes were scanned at 300 dpi and displayed at 150 dpi. The almost blank reverse is scanned and posted at 75 dpi
The two pattern notes are from a leading collection in Lanka.
The circulated note is from a lot of Ceylon WWII notes I won on eBay in 2002 July. Many of these notes brought back by WWII servicemen are getting on eBay, probably as their kids are not interested.