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2 Ryxdaalders
| Issuer | Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (United East India Company), Kolumbo |
|---|---|
| Year | 1796 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed on aged laid paper with an ornate rope-twist border framing the entire face. The four corners each bear a circular vignette: the upper-left and lower-right carry the VOC monogram cipher, while the upper-right and lower-left show a tree device. The central text reads "goed voor twee Ryxds:" in Dutch, accompanied by parallel inscriptions in Sinhalese script, with a large bold numeral "2" at centre. A manuscript signature appears across the lower portion of the note. |
|---|---|
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| Protection type | Official stamp |
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| Comments |
The VOC's Ceylon issues are among the most historically compressed objects in paper money. By 1796, the Company was functionally bankrupt — the Dutch state had already begun the process of absorbing its assets, and VOC-issued paper in Colombo was circulating under an administration that knew it would soon cease to exist. These notes were redeemed by the incoming Batavian Republic authorities within months of issue.
The official stamp constitutes the primary anti-counterfeiting measure, a low-tech solution common to colonial outpost issuances where access to sophisticated intaglio printing was impractical. Kolumbo was the press location as well as the issuing authority's seat — one of the few VOC branches where local production and local issuance aligned.
Pick lists only two Ceylon VOC types; this is the higher denomination of the pair.