2 Ryxdaalders

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.