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Auction: 17009 - World Banknotes
Lot: 1297

Dutch VOC issue (United East India Company), Ceylon, a 5 rijksdaalders 'Kredit brief', Colombo, 17 September 1795, black text on parchment-like paper, 'Payable to bearer on demand', in text and 'zegge VYF ryksdalers' and dated Kolumbo 17 September 1795. Multiple annotations and endorsements. The Dutch surrendered in 1796 and most unusually the British government continued to pay interest payments at 3% and did so as can be seen on the note between 1796 up till 1912
(Pick S21 for similar, see Codrington 'Ceylon coins and currency, published 1924), Codrington states only 777 notes for 5 rijksdaalders were issued. Ceylon was ruled by the Dutch East India Company between 1640 until their surrender to the British on the 14th February 1796, the year after the issue of the above mentioned banknote. A most important financial document issued at a turbulent period of Ceylon's history. There is one other example believed extant and that is in the Dutch Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. Handstamped CANCELLED at centre, about very fine and of the highest rarity and historical significance to the currency of the Netherlands East Indies and of Ceylon

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Estimate
£20,000 to £25,000