Type
First coloured note, Printed on unwatermarked paper.
Obverse
New Design depicting “Britannia” with lion accompanied by personified “Commerce” on left, “Trade” on right, and “Agriculture” near the feet. Arched BANK OF BENGAL above vignette. The constituent provinces of the Bengal Presidency identified by vignettes, in straight line from left, a Rhinoceros (Assam), steam boat and sail boat on river Hooghly (Bengal), Tomb of Shershah Suri at Sasaram (Bihar) and Elephant (representing the remaining provinces). Denomination in words in centre and numerals on either side within promise text. Denomination panel on lower left. Security features – microprinting and underprint in Promise text. Also denomination in words within each alphabet of the denomination in Promise text panel. Name of payee eliminated, Promise text ‘payable to bearer’. Printed dates on either side of promise text panel. Introduction of prefix. Serial numbers on either side. Manuscript signature for the BANK OF BENGAL. Engraved by W. H. Lizars, Edinburgh.
Reverse
Serial numbers in Bangla on either side. 10 followed by bold 10 across RUPEES and 10 in centre with Denomination in words in Persian above and Kaithi and Bangla below.
Microprint
Denomination in words in promise text panel. Denomination in words within each alphabet of denomination in coloured panel.
Note
- ‘Company’ omitted before Rupees.
- After encashment the note is retained for accounting purposes and it is over stamped with “CANCELLED”. Sometimes the signature portion of the note is also cut.
Table
| Type No. | Denominations | Prefix | Known Dates / Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A.3.10.1 | 10 Rupees | A | 31 Aug. 1857 / 12 Apr. 1859 |
| 1A.3.10.2 | 25 Rupees | B | 2 Sept. 1857 / 3 Sept. 1857 |
| 1A.3.10.3 | 50 Rupees | C | 19 Oct. 1857 |
| 1A.3.10.4 | 100 Rupees | F | 17 Nov. 1857 |
| 1A.3.10.5 | 500 Rupees | H | 18 Dec. 1857 |
| 1A.3.10.6 | 1000 Rupees | L | 27 Jan. 1858 |
