The Government of Seychelles — rather than a central bank — remained the direct issuing authority for currency well into the late colonial period, a common arrangement across small British territories where establishing a formal banking institution was considered unnecessary overhead. This note circulated under two separate signatories across a six-year span, with Addis signing in 1954 and Thorp in 1960, the latter date falling just as broader questions about the islands' political future were beginning to surface.
Thomas De La Rue's involvement is unremarkable for the region — they held most British colonial contracts of this type — but the watermark security on such a low-denomination note reflects standard Colonial Office specifications rather than any particular local requirement.
The Government of Seychelles — rather than a central bank — remained the direct issuing authority for currency well into the late colonial period, a common arrangement across small British territories where establishing a formal banking institution was considered unnecessary overhead. This note circulated under two separate signatories across a six-year span, with Addis signing in 1954 and Thorp in 1960, the latter date falling just as broader questions about the islands' political future were beginning to surface.
Thomas De La Rue's involvement is unremarkable for the region — they held most British colonial contracts of this type — but the watermark security on such a low-denomination note reflects standard Colonial Office specifications rather than any particular local requirement.