10 Rupees

The Government of India's early rupee notes were issued under the authority of the Secretary of State for India, administered through the Controller of Currency in Calcutta. This series predates the Reserve Bank of India by several decades — currency management remained a direct imperial function, with London retaining ultimate oversight. The note circulated across a subcontinent where metallic rupees still dominated everyday transactions, and paper instruments were regarded with considerable suspicion outside major commercial centers.

Two signatories bracket the issue period: Harvey Hamilton served as Controller of Currency from the late 1890s, succeeded by Gauntlett around 1907. Notes bearing different signatures are technically distinct issues despite the shared Pick reference.