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50 Rupees
| Issuer | Government of Ceylon |
|---|---|
| Year | 1941-1945 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Thomas De La Rue & Company |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Portrait of King George VI in military uniform occupies a circular vignette at left, set within an ornate guilloche border with scalloped edges. The denomination "FIFTY RUPEES" appears in large intaglio lettering at centre, flanked by intricate floral underprint patterns, with the serial number and prefix repeated at lower left and upper right. Inscriptions in English, Sinhala, and Tamil are present, along with the date "24th June 1945" and the signature of the Commissioners of Currency below centre. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Comments |
Ceylon's wartime currency operated under an unusual administrative split: the island remained under the India Office until 1948, but its note-issuing function was handled by the Government of Ceylon directly rather than through any reserve bank structure. The 50 Rupees denomination was the highest value in general circulation during this period, issued against a backdrop of acute wartime inflation pressure and the Japanese naval threat that culminated in the April 1942 Colombo raid.
Thomas De La Rue continued printing in London throughout the war years despite Blitz disruption — a logistical feat that often goes unacknowledged. The P#37 series spans 1941–1945 without mid-series design modification, making date attribution essential for precise catalog placement.