500 Rupees

Oriental Bank, Bombay, 500 Rupees, remainder, serial No. 421, dated 18— (circa 1845–1851). The bank was founded in Bombay as the Bank of Western India in 1842, renamed the Oriental Bank in 1845, and reconstituted as the Oriental Bank Corporation (head office moved to London) in 1851. Obverse: engraved vignette of the Town Hall of Bombay (with the Customs House, St Andrew's Church and the palm tree of Bombay Castle behind); "Promise to pay the Bearer on demand at the Bank's Office here (and not elsewhere) Five Hundred Rupees, Value received", "Bombay 18—", "By Order of the Board", with 500 RUPEES in a foliate cartouche and denomination underprints in the corners. Reverse: "ORIENTAL / 500 RUPEES / BANK". Printer's imprint of Batho & Bingley, Lombard Street, London. An unissued printer's remainder (blank date, unsigned; Entered/Account and Manager lines blank). References: J&R 1B.3.1.4; Pick (SCWPM) S-series for the Oriental Bank, Bombay issues (cf. 1000 Rupees = Pick S193). Extremely rare early Presidency-era private-bank note. Provenance: British Museum, reg. no. CIB.13984, donated by the ifs School of Finance, 2009. Dimensions 215 × 124 mm. British Museum object C_CIB-13984.