15 Dollars Colonial Bank

The Colonial Bank was chartered by act of Parliament in 1836 specifically to operate across British Caribbean territories — Barbados, Trinidad, British Guiana, and others — at a moment when the abolition of slavery had just reshaped the regional labor economy and the demand for reliable commercial credit was acute. This note dates to the bank's founding year, making it among the earliest issues of the series.

Perkins, Bacon & Petch's steel-engraved work from this period is among the most technically accomplished banknote printing of the nineteenth century, and their anti-counterfeiting geometrics were considered state of the art. The $15 denomination is an unusual unit — likely reflecting a specific exchange relationship with local currency conventions rather than any standard banking practice.