Reserve Bank of India rupee banknotes

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Period

from 1938

Issuing entity

Republic of India

Rupee banknotes issued by the Reserve Bank of India, from the George VI issues through the republican series.

Historical context

The Reserve Bank took over note issue from the Government of India in 1938, and the portrait changed after independence.

Design

Obverse
Royal portrait on early issues; later the Ashoka pillar and then a national portrait
Reverse
Denomination in multiple Indian languages

Identification

Period
Royal portrait indicates a pre-independence issue
Language panel
The panel of Indian languages is a constant feature

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.

Research required

  • Series dates and signature varieties to be transcribed from Reserve Bank publications
  • Demonetisation events to be documented from official sources
  • Pick numbers require transcription
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