10 Rupees

Bank of Madras, 10 Rupees, Madras, dated 1 May 1845, serial No. 12783, signed by John Heyman (Secretary & Treasurer, Feb–Aug 1845). Obverse headed 'BANK OF MADRAS' in English, Persian, Telugu and Tamil, with the central vignette of the equestrian statue of Sir Thomas Munro (Governor of Madras 1820–27; statue by Sir Francis Chantrey, 1839, at Fort St George); "Promise to pay the Bearer on demand ... Ten Rupees". Reverse: 'BANK OF MADRAS' and value. Example cancelled. Reference: J&R 1C.3.1.1 (10 Rupees, Plate Type 1). Heyman signed only the 10 Rupees and only on 1 May 1845, making his the scarcest signature of the four Bank of Madras secretaries (Birch, Heyman, Hunter, McIvor). Provenance: British Museum, reg. no. CIB.13998, donated by the ifs School of Finance, 2009. British Museum object C_CIB-13998.