Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 3 Banknote Set 1942-1951 F-VF – George VI, WWII

📸 Please Note: This listing is for the exact banknotes shown in the photographs.

Three King George VI notes from Ceylon (Sri Lanka): the wartime 10 and 25 Cents of 14 July 1942 and the 1 Rupee of 20 January 1951 from the newly founded Central Bank of Ceylon. A compact story of Ceylon in the Second World War and at independence.

⚡ Extreme Index: 7.2 / 10
Why it's extreme: Wartime emergency notes from the year Japan bombed Colombo, plus a 1 Rupee of the new Central Bank of Ceylon signed by future President J. R. Jayewardene.

• History & drama (30%): 8/10
• Scarcity (25%): 7.2/10 (Numista rarity index 65/100)
• Wow factor (20%): 7/10
• Age (15%): 7/10
• Condition (10%): 5/10

The Extreme Index is Extreme Banknotes' own collector score based on history, scarcity, curiosity, age and condition — it is not a valuation or investment rating.

📦 Included Banknotes:

1. 14 July 1942 Ceylon 10 Cents (P-43), serial A/50 183643

2. 14 July 1942 Ceylon 25 Cents (P-44a), serial A/31 570701

3. 20 January 1951 Ceylon 1 Rupee (P-47), serial A/6 548456

📖 History and Significance:
In 1942 Ceylon was a vital Allied base in the Indian Ocean, and on Easter Sunday, 5 April 1942, Japanese carrier aircraft bombed Colombo. With coins in short supply during the war, the Government of Ceylon issued small paper notes for cents, such as these 10 and 25 Cents dated 14 July 1942, with plain backs carrying only the serial number. Ceylon became independent in 1948, and the Central Bank of Ceylon opened in 1950 under its first Governor, the American economist John Exter. Its 1 Rupee of 1951 also carries the signature of the Finance Minister J. R. Jayewardene, who later became President of Sri Lanka. Ceylon was renamed Sri Lanka in 1972.

🎨 Design Details:
10 Cents 1942: King George VI in a central frame, "The Government of Ceylon", value in English, Sinhala and Tamil; plain back with serial number.
25 Cents 1942: King George VI in brown with the same wording; plain back with serial number.
1 Rupee 1951: King George VI at left, signatures of J. R. Jayewardene and John Exter; back: an ancient temple stairway with guardstones and a moonstone, value in Sinhala and Tamil.

🔍 Numismatic Features:

• Sizes: 95 × 43 mm, 101 × 51 mm and 107 × 59 mm
• Material: Paper
• Type: Wartime fractional notes and standard circulation banknote
• Currency: Ceylon rupee
• Country: Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
• Issuing Authority: Government of Ceylon (Cents) and Central Bank of Ceylon (Rupee)
• Dates: 14 July 1942 and 20 January 1951
• Printers: India (10 Cents); Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., England (1 Rupee)

✅ Condition Guide:
F-VF (Fine to Very Fine) / Circulated. Circulated notes with folds, softer paper, some toning and light stains, complete and with clear design details. The 1 Rupee has a small hole through the King's portrait and a few spots, as shown in the photos.