2019-11-11 Mon

The French establishments included Pondichéry, Karikal and Yanaon on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast and Chandernagor in Bengal. France was the last of the major European maritime powers of the 17th century to enter the East India trade.

In 1667 the French, under the command of François Caron (who was accompanied by a Persian named Marcara), reached Surat in 1668 and established the first French factory in India.

The roupie or rupee was the currency of French India. It was equal to the Indian rupee issued by the British and then Indian governments. Until 1871 it was issued as coins with the roupie divided into 8 fanons, each of 3 doudous or 20 cash. From 1871, banknotes were issued by France's Banque de l'Indochine, which circulated alongside coins issued by British India.

The note depicted besides is a specimen banknote of “50 Roupies” issued in 1898. The blue-grey and red brown note has Elephant columns at left and right, two reclining women with ox left, tiger right at lower border; “Decree” in ribbon in border at top centre.

Isn’t it a beautiful banknote?

Image Courtesy: EuroTopShop