5 Rixdollars

Ceylon was under British administration from 1796, but the rixdollar — inherited from the Dutch colonial period — remained the island's official currency unit until 1828. These notes circulated in a colony that had no mint and no local printing capability, hence the London press work by Gale & Butler, a firm better known for trade cards and commercial engraving than for currency production. The choice reflects expediency rather than prestige.

The eleven-year issue window is unusually wide for a single Pick number, suggesting either multiple print runs with subtle typographic variation or a protracted drawdown of a single stock held in Colombo. Distinguishing dates within the series requires close attention to manuscript inscription, as the year was written by hand at the time of signing.