Lot 364

Government of India 10 Rupees note, dated 2 February 1900, is an important late-Victorian example of the first Green Underprint issue. Although catalogued under Victoria Empress, it belongs to the non-portrait Uniface Underprint Series, with a fully printed front and blank reverse. Its green underprint, moulded paper, watermark, multilingual panels and two serial numbers provided improved security against counterfeiting. The Bombay Circle designation reflects the regional currency system, under which notes were initially encashable only within their circle of issue. Signed by O. T. Barrow, this combination of date, signature, circle and first-issue format is particularly desirable, This banknote has survived remarkably intact; most known examples are encountered cut into two halves and later rejoined. A highly sought-after and desirable rarity from the Victorian era, According to the PMG Population Report, only one note has been graded Very Fine 30, with just one example graded higher, confirming its exceptional scarcity in comparable or superior grades, J&R # 2A.2.1D.4, Graded by PMG 30 very fine, rare.