100 Rupees

The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London & China was one of the exchange banks operating across British Asia, and its Galle branch occupied an unusual position — Ceylon's southern port was a major coaling and transit stop on the imperial sea route, but it was consistently overshadowed by Colombo for commercial banking volume. A 100 Rupee note issued from Galle rather than Colombo is consequently rare; the branch handled less trade finance and issued correspondingly fewer high-denomination instruments.

The Chartered Mercantile Bank was absorbed into the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China in 1892, after which all predecessor-bank notes were called in. Surviving examples from the Galle branch in any denomination are scarce.