Catalog
5 Rupees - George V
| Issuer | Government of India |
|---|---|
| Year | 1917 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Rupee (1770-1947) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse is printed in a light tone with ghost impressions of the obverse text visible through the paper stock, a characteristic of early Indian colonial issues. An inverted denomination numeral '5' appears in dark red at the lower left corner as a countercheck indicator. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Watermark |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
The Government of India's wartime 5 Rupee note was a direct response to the metal shortage that gripped British India from 1915 onward — silver and nickel were diverted to the war effort, and paper substitutes were rushed into service to fill the gap left by disappearing coin. De La Rue printed the series in London and shipped the notes to India, a logistical arrangement that created real delays in supply during peak demand years.
Pick 3 is among the more commonly encountered early Indian Government notes, but signatures vary across the issue period and certain signatories command a significant premium over others.