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The first coins were probably introduced into India in the fourth century BC when punch-marked coins of different weights were introduced. Both copper and silver punch-marked coins were issued under the Mauryan Empire. Greek-style coins began circulating in India during the second century BC. After the Mauryan Empire collapsed, local tribal states began issuing their own coins. Inscriptions were Indian, but designs were Greek.

Satavahana coins issued in southern India created a distinct coinage from that of northern India that lasted into the nineteenth century. They issued both silver and led coins with symbolic designs, such as wheels, fish, trees, etc. Trade with Ancient Rome brought Roman coins into India which also influenced local designs. Kushan coins were minted in India between the second century BC and the second century AD. They issued the first gold coins in India.

The Guptas succeeded the Kushan Empire in the fourth century and Samudragupta (ca 350-370) issued coins similar in design to Kushan coins. The Huns issued coins in the fifth and sixth centuries in the parts of India they conquered. The issue of coinage declined during the sixth century, but in the ninth century coinage started to revive. The Kalachuri kings of Tripuri and Ratnapura issued gold coins, and the issue of gold and silver coins picked up in the tenth century.

The first locally produced Islamic coins appeared in the eighth century, but large scale production of Islamic coins didn't begin until the invasion of India by Muslims in the eleventh century. Mohammad bin Sam (1187-1206) conquered northern India and established the Sultanate of Delhi. Gold, silver and copper coins were issued with Arabic inscriptions and some Indian designs. Although the Sultanate expanded to cover almost the entire Indian subcontinent, most coins were produced by local Sultans. In particular, the Vijayanagar Kingdom in southern India issued coins similar in design to the old Satavahana coins.

The disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate allowed the Mughals to overrun northern India between 1525 and 1556. Initially, Mughal coins were based on Afghan designs, but they gradually changed to reflect the coins of the Delhi Sultanate. Akhbar completed the conquest of India and in 1584 he established a coinage system of mohurs and rupees that lasted until 1842 when the last Mughal coins were minted. Most coins were inscriptional in their design, though some coins had portraits on them.

When Vasco de Gama reached India in 1498, the leading states in India were the Muslim sultanate of Delhi in the north and the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar in the south. The Mughal Empire supplanted the Delhi sultanate by May 27, 1526, and by the late 1600s it had expanded over most of India. The British East India Company defeated a combined Mughal and French force in 1757, resulting in British supremacy in Bengal (Calcutta and the surrounding area). Thereafter British conquests spread rapidly. The Indian Mutiny of 1857-8 confirmed the existence of grave deficiencies in the company's administration of India, and on November 1, 1858 the British government took over the rule of India from the company. British India was partitioned between the Dominions of India and Pakistan on August 15, 1947. The areas of Jammu and Kashmir and of Sikkim share their monetary history with India.

Under Mughal rule, there were numerous monetary systems coexisting within India. The account Rupee had numerous subdivisions, which varied according to the Principality and the location within India. There was a Rupee of Account (INA), divisible into 16 Annas, 32 Ponis, 128 Burries and 2560 Cowries; a Rupee for the northern Muslim parts of India (INM), divisible into 16 Annas, 64 Pice or 192 Pie; a Hun for the Hindu parts of southern India (INH), equal to 3.6 Rupees and divisible into 42 Fanams, 168 Faluce or 3360 Cash; and the Baddam in Surat (INB), divisible into 100 Crores, 10,000 Lakhs, or 1,000,000 Rupees. The Kori, divisible into 4 Payalo, 8 Dhabu or 24 Dokda, was used in Kutch (INK). As always during the pre-twentieth century era, since the monetary system was a mixture of units of accounts, some gold, and silver and copper coins, the relative values of the different coins fluctuated against each other dramatically. A gold standard existed in Madras, a silver standard in Bengal, and a mixture in between. No uniform measure of value existed in India before 1800.

The British tried to bring some order to the monetary chaos as they consolidated their control over India. The Act of 1835 established the silver rupee as the standard coin for British India, and the first rupees were minted by the East India Company. Gold mohurs, equal to 15 Rupees, continued to be minted until they lost their legal tender status until January 1, 1853. Hence, India was on a bimetallic standard from around January 1, 1836 to December 31, 1852, on a silver standard from January 1, 1853 to June 25, 1893, on a weak Gold Standard from June 26, 1893 to December 31, 1897 and on a Pound Sterling standard from 1898 on. British Gold sovereigns were made legal tender in India in January 1899 and they became legal tender in all the countries whose monetary system was based on the Indian Rupee.

The British government took over control from the East India Company in 1857, and in 1862 the British began issuing a unified coinage for all of India. Although local sultans continued to issue coins after 1862, the coins gradually began to conform to the British standard.

Before the British took over India from the East India Company, individual banks had issued and circulated banknotes, but under British rule, the government monopolized the issue of banknotes, though with banknotes issued and redeemable regionally. The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 and became the sole banknote issuing authority in India.

Under British rule, several princely states had the right to issue coins and banknotes, and several of them did so until 1950. Hyderabad issued its own banknotes and coins throughout the British colonial era. The Hyderabad Rupee was slightly different from the Indian Rupee with 7 hali sicca (osmania sicca) rupees = 6 Indian rupees.

The three presidency zones of the British colonial era initially had separate rupees: the sicca rupee (Calcutta), the old Bombay rupee, and the Madras arcot rupee, each having a slightly different weight. The East India Company made the Madras Rupee its standard Rupee in 1818 and thus it was called the 'Company's Rupee'. The Sicca Rupee then ceased to be legal tender. The Rupee sytem was standardized by the British on June 26, 1893 when the Indian Rupee was fixed at the rate of 1 Sovereign (British Pound) equal to 15 Rupees. The British standardized the silver Rupee (INR) throughout India, and made it divisible into 16 Annas, 64 Pice or 192 Pie. It took 15 Rupees to get 1 Mohur. Its value fluctuated, relative to the British Pound, as the values of silver and gold fluctuated.

The Indian Rupee was also used extensively in the Middle East, east Africa and other parts of the world that were on trade routes to and from India. The Rupee was used in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Mauritius and the Seychelles, though divided into 100 Cents. The Indian Rupee was used in Aden and in British Somaliland until 1951, in Iraq from 1917 to 1931, in Kuwait until 1961, in Bahrain until 1966, in Qatar and the Trucial Coast until 1967 and in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman until 1966. The Rupee was also used in Zanzibar, Burma, Pakistan, Bhutan and the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf Rupee (XPGR) was used in Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial States, and the Haj Rupee (XINP) was issued for pilgrims to Mecca. The Rupee also became the standard for the monetary systems of Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

After gaining its independence, India continued to use the Rupee. The Rupee was made divisible into 100 Naye Paise between 1957 and 1965, and 100 Paise beginning in 1964. The Treasury of the Government of India issued banknotes until 1943. The Reserve Bank of India was set up in April 1, 1935 and took over responsibility for issuing banknotes. The Crore (10,000,000 Rupees) and Lakh (100,000 Rupees) are often used as units of account. The Haj Rupee and Persian Gulf Rupees (XPGR) were issued by the Reserve Bank of India.

French India included Chandernagor, Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahe and Yanoan, which became French territories in 1674. Chandernagor was transferred to India on May 2, 1950, and Pondicherry was transferred to India on November 1, 1954. The Indian Rupee was legal tender in French India, and the Banque de l'Indochine issued the French India Roupiah (INFR) at par with the Indian Rupee. The French India Roupiah was divisible into 8 Fanams, 24 Duddus or 96 Cache until 1871, and divisible into 16 Annas, 64 Pice or 192 Pie thereafter. French India also issued gold coins called Pagodas. The French India Roupiah and Indian Rupee were at par with each another.

The Dutch East India Company captured Cochin from the Portugues and opened posts in Pulikat (1610) and Negapatam (1690) while the Danish captured Tranquebar. Both the Dutch and the Danes issued gold, silver and copper coins based on Vijayanagar coinage.

Portuguese India primarily included Diu, Damao and Goa, which was occupied by the Portuguese in 1510. India occupied Goa on December 19, 1961 and it was formally recognized as part of India on March 16, 1962.

The Portuguese began issuing coins in 1521 in imitation of local Bijapur coins. The Portuguese continued to issue coins until the Goa mint was closed by the British in 1869. From 1871 on, coins for Portuguese India were minted in Lisbon. The Banco Nacional Ultramarino issued Portuguese India Rupias (INPR) at par with the Indian Rupee, divisible into 16 Tanga and equal to 960 Reis, beginning in 1881. The Rupia was replaced with the Escudo (INPE), divisible into 100 Centavos, on January 1, 1959 with 6 Escudos equal to 1 Rupee, causing the Portuguese to issue 30, 60, 300 and 600 Escudo notes. The Indian Rupee (INR) replaced the Escudo when Goa became part of India.

For a very nice site with descriptions and a small history of each of India's past Governors, click here.

Here is a 2 Rupee undated noted that was released into circulation somewhere between December 1977 and September 1982, during I G Patel's term as governor. The overall note is deep pink and multicolored. The obverse depicts english text to the left of the center denomination with Hindu to the right and a Hindi denomination language panel. A large letter B in the underprint beneath the serial. A window for the watermark to the right of the note, and an Asoka column to the right. The reverse features a tiger in the center, and a corrected Urdu inscription on the bottom of the left side panel. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- I G Patel
• Colonial Office: B for Bombay
• Krause# Pick-53e

This is a 2 Rupee undated noted that was released into circulation somewhere between December 1977 and September 1982, during I G Patel's term as governor. The overall note is deep pink and multicolored. The obverse depicts english text to the left of the center denomination with Hindu to the right and a Hindi denomination language panel. A large letter C in the underprint beneath the serial. A window for the watermark to the right of the note, and an Asoka column to the right. The reverse features a tiger in the center, and a corrected Urdu inscription on the bottom of the left side panel. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- I G Patel
• Colonial Office: C for Calcutta
• Krause# Pick-53f

Here is a 2 Rupee undated noted that was released into circulation somewhere between February 1985 and december 1990, during R N Malhotra's term as governor. The overall note is deep pink and multicolored. The obverse depicts english text to the left of the center denomination with Hindu to the right and a Hindi denomination language panel. A large letter A in the underprint beneath the serial. A window for the watermark to the right of the note, and an Asoka column to the right. The reverse features a tiger in the center, and a corrected Urdu inscription on the bottom of the left side panel. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- R N Malhotra
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-53Ac

This is a 2 Rupee undated noted that was released into circulation somewhere between February 1985 and december 1990, during R N Malhotra's term as governor. The overall note is deep pink and multicolored. The obverse depicts english text to the left of the center denomination with Hindu to the right and a Hindi denomination language panel. A large letter B in the underprint beneath the serial. A window for the watermark to the right of the note, and an Asoka column to the right. The reverse features a tiger in the center, and a corrected Urdu inscription on the bottom of the left side panel. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- R N Malhotra
• Colonial Office: B for Bombay
• Krause# Pick-53Ad

Here is a 2 Rupee undated noted that was released into circulation somewhere between December 1990 and december 1992, during S Venkitaramanan's term as governor. The overall note is deep pink and multicolored. The obverse depicts english text to the left of the center denomination with Hindu to the right and a Hindi denomination language panel. A large letter B in the underprint beneath the serial. A window for the watermark to the right of the note, and an Asoka column to the right. The reverse features a tiger in the center, and a corrected Urdu inscription on the bottom of the left side panel. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- S Venkitaramanan
• Colonial Office: B for Bombay
• Krause# Pick-53Ae

This is a 10 Rupee undated note that was released into circulation between December 1977 and September 1982, during I G Patel's term as governor. The note is dark brown on multicolored underprint. The obverse depicts a large, 18mm broad, denomination in the center, Asoka column to the right, a window for the watermark to the left, and a large letter C in the underprint behind the serial. The reverse features a Dhow, a traditional Arab sailing vessel with one or more lateen sails. Larger dhows have crews of approximately thirty, while smaller dhows typically have crews of around twelve. On the top of the reverse is the heading in Hindi, and to the left, in the language panel is a corrected Urdu inscription. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- I G Patel
• Colonial Office: C for Calcutta
• Krause# Pick-60f

This is a 10 Rupee undated note that was released into circulation between February 1985 and december 1990, during R N Malhotra's term as governor. The note is dark brown on multicolored underprint. The obverse depicts a large, 18mm broad, denomination in the center, Asoka column to the right, a window for the watermark to the left, and a large letter G in the underprint behind the serial. The reverse features a Dhow, where up to the 1960s, dhows made commercial journeys between the Persian Gulf and East Africa using sails as their only means of propulsion. On the top of the reverse is the heading in Hindi, and to the left, in the language panel is a corrected Urdu inscription. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- R N Malhotra
• Colonial Office: G
• Krause# Pick-60l

Here is a 10 Rupee undated note which was released into circulation between February 1985 and december 1990, during R N Malhotra's term as governor. The note is dark brown on multicolored underprint. This note has a Hindi title above the 'Reserve Bank of India' on the obverse, as well as the Hindi translation on the left of the '10' of the phrase to the right. The Asoka statue to the right of the obverse has a Sanskrit title below. The reverse depicts a sailboat, a dhow (which the term is applied to small, traditionally-constructed vessels used for trade in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf area and the Indian Ocean from Madagascar to the Gulf of Bengal), on the ocean waters. Usual staple holes are present, and does not show a letter behind the serial. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- R N Malhotra
• Colonial Office: none
• Krause# Pick-60Aa

This is a 1 Rupee note dated 1957. The note is violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse features the obverse of a coin that depicts an asoka column. The value is spelled out in the center, a letter D after the serial, and an area to the left for the watermark. The reverse shows the reverse of a coin showing the denomination of 200 Naye Paise in Hindi and the date. The center of the reverse shows 7 lines in different languages of the denomination. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Ministry of Finance- L. K. Jha
• Colonial Office: D
• Krause# Pick-75f

Here is a 1 Rupee note dated 1973. The note is violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse shows a coin with an asoka column. to the left, the denomination to the center, the letter E by the serial and a window to the left for the watermark. The reverse shows the reverse of a coin showing the date, and has 13 languages in the center panel telling the denomination. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Ministry of Finance- Kane
• Colonial Office: E
• Krause# Pick-77l

This is a 1 Rupee note dated 1976. The note is violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse shows a coin with an asoka column. to the left, the denomination to the center, there is no letter by the serial and a window to the left for the watermark. The reverse shows the reverse of a coin showing the date, and has 13 languages in the center panel telling the denomination. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Ministry of Finance- Singh
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-77t

Here is a 1 Rupee note dated 1978. The note is violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse shows a coin with an asoka column. to the left, the denomination to the center, there is the letter A beneath the serial int he underprint and a window to the left for the watermark. The reverse shows the reverse of a coin showing the date, and has 13 languages in the center panel telling the denomination. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Ministry of Finance- Singh
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-77v

This is a 1 Rupee note dated 1980. The note is violet on multicolored underprint.The obverse shows a coin with an asoka column. to the left, the denomination to the center, there is the letter B beneath the serial in the underprint and a window to the left for the watermark. The reverse shows the reverse of a coin showing the date, and has 13 languages in the center panel telling the denomination. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Ministry of Finance- Malhotra
• Colonial Office: B for Bombay
• Krause# Pick-77z

Here is a 1 Rupee note dated 1984. The note is purple and violet on light blue underprint. The obverse depicts the obverse of a coin showing an Asoka column. The reverse of the note shows the reverse of the coin showing the date. There is an offshore drilling platform in the center of the reverse. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Ministry of Finance- Kane
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-78Aa

This is a 1 Rupee note dated 1990. The note is purple and violet on light blue underprint. The obverse depicts the obverse of a coin showing an Asoka column., and a letter B beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse of the note shows the reverse of the coin showing the date. There is an offshore drilling platform in the center of the reverse. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Finance Secretary- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: B for Bombay
• Krause# Pick-78Ae

Here is a 2 Rupee note undated and released into circulation between August 1975 and May 1977, during K R Puri's term as governor. The note is orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features an asoka column to the right, the denomination in the center with 13 denomination languages to the left. The reverse depicts a spacecraft in the center. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- K R Puri
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-79a

Here is a 2 Rupee note undated and released into circulation between December 1977 and September 1982, during I G Patel's term as governor. The note is orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features an asoka column to the right, the denomination in the center with 13 denomination languages to the left, and the letter A beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse depicts a spacecraft in the center. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- I G Patel
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-79e

Here is a 2 Rupee undated note and released into circulation between January 1984 and February 1985, during Manmahan Singh's term as governor. The note is orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features an asoka column to the right, the denomination in the center with 13 denomination languages to the left, and the letter A beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse depicts a spacecraft in the center. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- Manmahan Singh
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-79f

Here is a 2 Rupee undated note and released into circulation between February 1985 and December 1990, during R N Malhotra's term as governor. The note is orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features an asoka column to the right, the denomination in the center with 13 denomination languages to the left, and the letter B beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse depicts a spacecraft in the center. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- R N Malhotra
• Colonial Office: B for Bombay
• Krause# Pick-79i

Here is a 2 Rupee undated note and released into circulation between February 1985 and December 1990, during R N Malhotra's term as governor. The note is orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features an asoka column to the right, the denomination in the center with 13 denomination languages to the left, and there is no letter beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse depicts a spacecraft in the center. The watermark for this note is an asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- R N Malhotra
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-79j

This is a 2 Rupee undated note and released into circulation between December 1977 and September 1982, during I G Patel's term as governor. The note is orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features an asoka column to the right, the denomination in the center with 13 denomination languages to the left, and there is no letter beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse depicts a spacecraft in the center. The watermark for this note is a 'normal' asoka column. (see note below)

• Signature: Governor- I G Patel
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-79 c or d or new variety?

NOTE: this note has no letter beneath the serial and has the signature of I.G. Patel. Based on the Krause publication 'Standard Catalog of World Paper Money' 14th edition ... P-79c is described as 'Without letter. Without watermark. Signature 82'. P-79d is described as 'Without letter. With watermark: 6 wheels surrounding Asoka column. Signature 82'. The note pictured here does not have the letter, and has an Asoka column .. but DOES NOT have the 6 wheels surrounding the Asoka column. Is this note a different variety?? or does the Pick catalog have another mistake (take a look at P-89 - its a 10 Rupee note with a 20 Rupee note pictured) ?? Do you have a note similar to mine, with the normal Asoka column, please use the Contact Me page. Do you have P-79c or P-79d as described in the Pick catalog - please use the Contact me page if you do. I would like to know if the note i have is (unlikely) a new variety, or if the catalog has a mistake (more likely).

Here is an undated 5 Rupee note, released into circulation between January 1984 and February 1985, during Manmahan Singh's term as governor. The note is grayish green on light blue and orange underprint. The obverse depicts an Asoka column to the right of the central denomination. There is a large letter D beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse features an agricultural scene with a farmer plowing a field on a tractor. The watermark for this note is an Asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- Manmahan Singh
• Colonial Office: D
• Krause# Pick-80i

This is an undated 5 Rupee note, released into circulation between November 1997 and September 2003, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The note is grayish green on light blue and orange underprint. The obverse depicts an Asoka column to the right of the central denomination. There is no large letter beneath the serial in the underprint. The reverse features an agricultural scene with a farmer plowing a field on a tractor. The watermark for this note is an Asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: none
• Krause# Pick-80s

Here is a 20 Rupee note released into circulation between November 1997 and September 2003, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The obverse of this note is red and purple on multicolored underprint. The reverse is orange on multicolored underprint, and features the Hindu Wheel of Time. There are the usual staple holes on this note, as well as a letter C on the obverse behind the serial in the underprint.

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: C for Calcutta
• Krause# Pick-82k

This is an undated 50 Rupee note released into circulation between December 1992 and December 1997, during C Rangarajan's term as governor. The note is black and purple on orange, lilac and multicolored underprint. The obverse depicts an Asoka column to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse shows the Parliament house with a center flagpole with flag. This note has letter 'B' behind the serial in the underprint on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- C. Rangarajan
• Colonial Office: B for Bombay
• Krause# Pick-84i

Here is a 100 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between February 1985 and December 1990, during R. N. Malhotra's term as governor. The note is black and blue-violet on brown and multicolored underpint. The obverse depicts the Asoka column to the right, the denomination and language panel in the center, and the lower 'bar' on the bottom of the note does not extend beyond the denomination text in the right corner. The reverse is busy showing alot of aspects of agriculture including field workers planting, field workers during the harvest, a tractor working the field and a dam. The note has a watermark featuring an Asoka column.

• Signature: Governor- R N Malhotra
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-85A

This is an undated 100 Rupee note, released into circulation between December 1990 and December 1992, during S. Venkitaramanan's term as governor. The note is black, deep red and purple on multicolored underpint with a pink 'stripe' down the center. The obverse depicts the Asoka column to the right, the denomination and language panel in the center, and the lower 'bar' on the bottom of the note does not extend beyond the denomination text in the right corner. The signatures on the obverse are in a deep red ink and does not have a letter behind the serial in the underprint. The reverse is busy showing alot of aspects of agriculture including field workers planting, field workers during the harvest, a tractor working the field and a dam. The note has a watermark featuring an Asoka column surrounded by 6 wheels.

• Signature: Governor- S Venkitaramanan
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-86d

Here is a 100 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between December 1992 and December 1997, during C Rangarajan's term as governor. The note is black, deep red and purple on multicolored underprint. The note is black, deep red and purple on multicolored underpint with a pink 'stripe' down the center. The obverse depicts the Asoka column to the right, the denomination and language panel in the center, and the lower 'bar' on the bottom of the note does not extend beyond the denomination text in the right corner. The signatures on the obverse are in a deep red ink and does not have a letter behind the serial in the underprint. The reverse is busy showing alot of aspects of agriculture including field workers planting, field workers during the harvest, a tractor working the field and a dam. The note has a watermark featuring an Asoka column surrounded by 6 wheels.

• Signature: Governor- C. Rangarajan
• Colonial Office: none
• Krause# Pick-86f

Here is an undated 100 Rupee note, released into circulation between December 1992 and December 1997, during C Rangarajan's term as governor. The note is black, deep red and purple on multicolored underprint. The note is black, deep red and purple on multicolored underpint with a pink 'stripe' down the center. The obverse depicts the Asoka column to the right, the denomination and language panel in the center, and the lower 'bar' on the bottom of the note does not extend beyond the denomination text in the right corner. The signatures on the obverse are in a deep red ink and has the letter A behind the serial in the underprint. The reverse is busy showing alot of aspects of agriculture including field workers planting, field workers during the harvest, a tractor working the field and a dam. The note has a watermark featuring an Asoka column surrounded by 6 wheels.

• Signature: Governor- C Rangarajan
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-86g

This note is a 10 Rupees undated note released into circulation between February 1985 and December 1990, during R. N. Malhotra's term as governor. The note is dull brown-violet on orange, green and multicolored underprint. The obverse depicts an Asoka column. The reverse is red-violet and shows a beautiful rural temple in the center. This note shows the letter 'A' behind the serial number on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- R.N. Malhotra
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-88b

Here is an undated 10 Rupees note released into circulation between December 1990 and December 1992, during S. Venkitaramanan's term as governor. The note is dull brown-violet on orange, green and multicolored underprint. The obverse depicts an Asoka column. The reverse is red-violet and shows a beautiful rural temple in the center. This note shows the letter 'C' behind the serial number on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- S. Venkitaramanan
• Colonial Office: C for Calcutta
• Krause# Pick-88e

Here is a 5 Rupee undated note printed in 2002. The note is green-orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse depicts a farmer plowing a field with a tractor. This note does not show any letter behind the serial.

• Signature: Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: none
• Krause# Pick-88Aa

This is a 10 Rupee undated note released into circulation between November 1997 and September 2003, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor.. The note is pale brown-violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse shows ornamented rhinoceros and elephant heads behind a tiger. This note has the letter 'M' behind the serial. Other varieties for this Pick# can also have the letters 'L' or 'R' located behind the serial.

• Signature: C. Rangarajan
• Colonial Office: M for Madras
• Krause# Pick-89b

Here is a 10 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between November 1997 and September 2003, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse shows ornamented rhinoceros and elephant heads behind a tiger. This note has the letter 'M' behind the serial. Other varieties for this Pick# can also have the letters R, N, A, P, Q, S, T, L, and B located behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: M for Madras
• Krause# Pick-89c

This is a 10 Rupee undated note released into circulation between September 2003 and now, during Y. V. Reddy's term as governor. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse shows ornamented rhinoceros and elephant heads behind a tiger. This note has the letter 'A' behind the serial. Other varieties for this Pick# can also have the letter R located behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Y V Reddy
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-89e

This is an undated 20 Rupee note, released into circulation between November 1997 and September 2003, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The note is red-orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as the watermark. The reverse depicts some cococut trees cradling a beautifull vista beyond. This note has the letter 'A' behind the serial on the obverse. Other varieties for this Pick# can also have the letter R located behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-89Ab

This is a 20 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between September 2003 and now, during Y. V. Reddy's term as governor. The note is red-orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as the watermark. The reverse depicts some cococut trees cradling a beautifull vista beyond. This note has the letter 'A' behind the serial on the obverse. Other varieties for this Pick# can also have the letter R located behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-89Ad

Here is a 50 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between November 1997 and September 2003, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The note is black and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse depicts the Parliament house. This note shows the letter 'A' behind the serial. In the Pick book, P-90c and P-90e are shown to have the letter 'A'. I believe P-90e is a misprint and is actually a letter other then 'A'. The next issue will hopefully show the correction. (not corrected in the 14th edition)

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-P-90c or e

This is a 2005 dated 50 Rupee note. The note is black and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse depicts the Parliament house. This note does not show a letter behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-90h

This is a 50 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between September 2003 and now, during Y. V. Reddy's term as governor. The note is black and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse depicts the Parliament house. This note shows a letter A behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-90i

Here is a 50 Rupee note dated 2005. The note is black and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse depicts the Parliament house. This note shows a letter R behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: R for Rangoon
• Krause# Pick-90k

This is a 100 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between November 1997 and September 2003, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The note is black, purple and dark olive-green on pale blue-green and multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse show a stunning vignette of the Himalayan Mountains. This note does not have a letter behind the serial number.

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: none
• Krause# Pick-91g

Here is an undated 100 Rupee note, released into circulation between September 2003 and now, during Y. V. Reddy's term as governor. The note is black, purple and dark olive-green on pale blue-green and multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse show a stunning vignette of the Himalayan Mountains. This note does not have a letter behind the serial number.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-91k

Here is a 500 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between November 2000 and September 2002, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The note is pale yellow, mauve and brown. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and as a watermark, the reserve bank seal to the lower right and the denomination in the center written in optical variable ink (OVI is a high security feature showing different colours as the angle of view changes). The reverse depicts Mahatma Gandhi leading a group of followers. This note has the letter 'A' behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore
• Krause# Pick-93b

This is a 1000 Rupee undated note, released into circulation between November 2000 and September 2002, during Bimal Jalan's term as governor. The note is pink and gray. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi. The reverse is brown, red and black and depicts an allegory representation of the Indian economy. This note has the letter 'A' behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Bimal Jalan
• Colonial Office: A for Cawnpore.
• Krause# Pick-94b

Here is a 2006 dated 10 Ruppe note. The note is pale brown-violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse shows ornamented rhinoceros and elephant heads behind a tiger. This note does not have a letter behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-95

This is a 10 Ruppe note dated 2006. The note is pale brown-violet on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark. The reverse shows ornamented rhinoceros and elephant heads behind a tiger. This note shows the letter R behind the serial on the obverse in the underprint.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: R for Rangoon
• Krause# Pick-95

Here is a 20 Rupee note dated 2006. The note is red-orange on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as the watermark, the reserve bank seal in the right lower corner and a security thread down the center. The reverse depicts some cococut trees cradling a beautifull vista beyond. This note does not have a letter behind the serial on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-96

This is a 2007 dated 20 Rupee note. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as the watermark, the reserve bank seal in the right lower corner and a security thread down the center. The reverse depicts some cococut trees cradling a beautifull vista beyond. This note shows a letter E behind the serial on the obverse in the underprint.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: E
• Krause# Pick- 2007 not yet listed

Here is a 50 Rupee note dated 2006. The note is black and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark, the reserve bank seal in the lower right corner, the denomination in the center and a security thread down the middle. The reverse depicts the Parliament house. This note does not have a letter behind the serial on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-97

This is a 50 Rupee note dated 2006. The note is black and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark, the reserve bank seal in the lower right corner, the denomination in the center and a security thread down the middle. The reverse depicts the Parliament house. This note has the letter E behind the serial on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: E
• Krause# Pick-97

This is a 2007 dated 50 Rupee note. The note is black and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark, the reserve bank seal in the lower right corner, the denomination in the center and a security thread down the middle. The reverse depicts the Parliament house. This note has the letter R behind the serial on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: R for Rangoon
• Krause# Pick- 2007 Not Yet Listed

This is a 100 Rupee note dated 2006. The note is black, purple and dark olive-green on pale blue-green and multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark, the reserve bank seal in the lower right corner, Asoka column to the left and the denomination and security thread in the center. The reverse show a beautiful vignette of the Himalayan Mountains. This note does not have a letter behind the serial number on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-2006 Not Yet Listed

Here is a 100 Rupee note dated 2007. The note is black, purple and dark olive-green on pale blue-green and multicolored underprint. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right and also as a watermark, the reserve bank seal in the lower right corner, Asoka column to the left and the denomination and security thread in the center. The reverse show a beautiful vignette of the Himalayan Mountains. This note does not have a letter behind the serial number on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: None
• Krause# Pick-2007 Not yet Listed

Here is a 500 Rupees note dated 2008. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right with the reserve bank seal in the lower right corner, the denomination in the center and a new security thread down the middle. The reverse depicts Mahatma Gandhi leading a group of followers. This note has the letter 'R' behind the serial on the obverse.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: R for Rangoon
• Krause# Pick-Not Yet Assigned

This is a 1000 Rupees note dated 2008. The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi to the right with the reseve bank seal, the denomination in the center with a security thread down the middle. The reverse depicts an allegory representation of the Indian economy. This note has the letter 'R' behind the serial.

• Signature: Governor- Yaga Venugopal Reddy
• Colonial Office: R for Rangoon
• Krause# Pick-2008 Not Yet Assigned

• Signature:
• Colonial Office:
• Krause# Pick-