2016-10-03 Mon

This Sixteen sicca rupee note was issued by the Bank of Hindostan which was established in 1770. It is one of the private banks of Bengal Presidency.

This note belongs to the period when India was facing power struggle, when foreign winds have settled in her atmosphere and her soil was tainting with corruption, war and politics. A period when kings were made puppets and trader were handling the Governance of this vast land. This period was before the Queen’s Proclamation, before the War of Independence (1857), the Period of East India Company’s rule.

This sixteen rupee note was printed by Bank of Hindostan in 1830. It is an unissued note with its obverse featuring BANK OF HINDOSTAN in top centre and CALCUTTA in lower centre and ‘SIXTEEN’ written on both sides. Denomination is seen written in Hindi on the lower left and in Bangla on Lower right margin. Arabic numerical is in Persian on the vertical panel on each side where as Hindostan bank in perisan, Bangla and Hindi written below promise text. Sixteen is printed in numerical form below the promise text. Manuscript have Two dates and serial no and payee’s name on it, entered by the Manuscript for the bank of Hindostan.

The Reverse depicts denomination in Bangla, Hindi and Persian and English on top and sixteen in numerical on both side of “SICCA RUPEE SIXTEEN”.

This was the time when East India Company established bank for trade and governance purpose, one such bank was Bank of Hindostan which was closed down in 1831.

One such specimen of extremely fine condition was sold for INR 7, 00,000 by classical numismatic gallery on 22nd April 2012.