1000 Rupees

Government of India, 1000 Rupees, uniface, dated 17 September 1919, Bombay, serial no. WD/4 20885, signed by H. Denning. J&R 2A.7.2D.3. The largest of the uniface denominations in regular issue: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA in a broad chain of engraved rosettes across the head, 1000 RUPEES in ornamental medallions at both upper corners and repeated down both side panels, the denomination in four vernacular script panels along the top, the engraved promise 'Promise to pay the Bearer ON DEMAND the sum of ONE THOUSAND Rupees', the place and date rendered twice as '1919 Sept. 17 Bombay 17 Sept. 1919', a large green 1000 underprint at centre, and FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA above the signature of the Comptroller of Paper Currency; the reverse is plain, as issued, with a contemporary ink endorsement at the left. Thousand-Rupee uniface notes circulated in tiny numbers among banks and merchant houses rather than in general commerce, and survivors are correspondingly rare. Raw and ungraded, with the quartered folds and even browning of a note that saw genuine use, small edge nicks and a few pinholes, complete and entirely legible. UNLISTED PREFIX: the serial prefix WD/4 is not among those J&R records for this type (ME, WC, SD) - an unlisted-prefix variety. Searchable marker: unlisted prefix.