2020-02-25 Tue

Portuguese became the first European's to land on Indian shores in 1498. They remained in power for nearly two centuries. Later on, due to the rise of the East India Company, their dominion was confined to the Goa and other regions of the west coast of India.

Portuguese issued the first one rupee note in 1917; it illustrates Uma Rupia which was equivalent to one Rupia. It was the second issue of ‘Banco Nacional Ultramarino’ meaning Overseas National Bank of New Goa. It was printed in London by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.Ltd. This one rupee note had two types in this issue.

The above-shown image illustrates the type ‘b’ banknote of the fourth issue. This note illustrates date 1st January 1924 and depicted overprint text and serial number in red ink. The numbers of signatory on this issue were three. The third signature was an abbreviated manuscript signature below the serial number on the left window. It was the short signature of Manuel Rodriguez Juniors- an administrator of the Portuguese territories in India.

The design of the note remained the same as the previous ‘type A’ note; a steamship in the left window was the new feature of this issue. These notes circulated in Indo-Portuguese territories till 1961 after that Indian currency became a legal tender in this region.