Banco Nacional Ultramarino Banknotes of 1906
for Portuguese India in Goa
Banco Nacional Ultramarino was established in Lisbon, Portugal in 1864. This bank was established in Portugal for the Portuguese colonies overseas. Banco Nacional Ultramarino means ‘National Overseas Bank’. This bank had operations throughout the world. In 1901 though Banco Nacional Ultramarino retained its note issuing monopoly in the Portuguese colonies, it lost its banking monopoly.
The first notes of
Portuguese India resulted from the Anglo-Portuguese convention of 1880 by a
Provincial Order No.566 of 27 September 1882. These notes “were made in London
and started circulating in this State (India) on 1.X.1883”. The first issues were of ‘Junta da Fazenda
Publica’ Department of Public Finance Nova Goa.
The first notes were Uniface, had a watermark and were dated 1882. These notes were printed in London and under
the responsibility of the Council of the Treasury. These notes even though
dated 1882, were put into circulation on 1st October 1883. The first issue was
withdrawn on 2nd November 1896.
A second issue was by
‘Governo Geral Do Estado Da India’ - General Government of the State of India
as they had the right to issue paper money. These notes entered into circulation
in January 1897, were Uniface and were printed in the National Press of Nova
Goa. These notes were withdrawn on 28th March 1900.
The third issue of 14th October
1899 was also by ‘Governo Geral Do Estado Da India’. These notes were also Uniface and printed at
the National Press of Nova Goa and withdrawn from circulation on 1st February
1907.
The notes by Banco
Nacional Ultramarino were printed in London by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.
Ltd., Gravadores. The denominations of
the 1906 Banco Nacional Ultramarino notes issued as 5 Rupias, 10 Rupias, 20
Rupias and 50 Rupias. These notes were
in circulation from 1906 with notes dated 1st January 1906. The printing of these notes was discontinued
in 1922. These notes were in circulation
till 1943. Even though these notes were
in circulation for 37 years, and were printed in subsequent years, the date
remained unchanged.
Banco Nacional Ultramarino
issued bank notes for Luanda, Angola, Praia, Cabo Verde, Sao Tome and Principe,
Goa, Mozambique, Macau, Bolama and East Timor.
Banco Nacional
Ultramarino ceased to exist, as an independent legal entity in Portugal
following its merger in 2001 with the Government owned savings bank ‘Caixa
Geral de Depositos’. Even though BNU
still exists and continues operations in Macau, it does not have any relevance
with Portugal. With the monetary reform
instituted in June 1958, the currency of Portuguese India underwent a change
where decimalisation came into being. The decimal system of 100 Centavos equals
to 1 Escudo. The last of these series of notes were printed by Thomas de la Rue
& Co. Ltd., London and were in circulation until 1961, the year in which
the Indian Army liberated Goa.
Coat of Arms in Banco Nacional Ultramarino notes of 1906
From
the second half of the 19th Century, the Royal Coat of Arms became
commonly represented with the shield covered by a mantle purple lined ermine
issuing from the Royal crown.
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Royal
Coat of Arms in Banco Nacional Ultramarino notes of 1906
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Seals on notes of Banco Nacional Ultramarino
Seal 1
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below. ‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal used in notes from
1906-1917.
Seal 2
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
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Seal
1
1906-1917
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Seal
2
1918-1921
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Seals
on notes of Banco Nacional Ultramarino
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Evolution of the 1906 issue:
Banco Nacional
Ultramarino banknote of 1906 was printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.
London. They were in circulation until 1943.
These notes are one of the most beautiful and colourful notes of Indian
Paper Money.
Design
Template with Manuscript in Portuguese
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Banco Nacional Ultramarino
No_________
O Thesoureiro da
Succursal em Nova Goa pagara
a vista ao portador
…….. Rupias
em moeda corrente valor
recebido
No___________
Seal
Lisboa em ____ de ________ de 19___
O Agente ________ O Governador ____________
_____________ O
Vice Governador __________
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5 Rupias – Cinco Rupias
Hand
painted Colour Essay - 5 Rupias – Cinco Rupias
5 Rupias
– Cinco Rupias - Specimen – Colour Trial
5 Rupias
– Cinco Rupias - Reverse – Colour Trial
5 Rupias
– Cinco Rupias - Reverse – Colour Trial
5
Rupias – Cinco Rupias with Seal 1 - Obverse
5
Rupias – Cinco Rupias - Reverse
5
Rupias – Cinco Rupias with Seal 2 - Obverse
5 Rupias – Cinco Rupias
Obverse
The notes are
predominantly in green, orange and black colour on the obverse. The guilloche in green and orange colours
forms a part of the central panel as an underprint with the border in bold
black pattern. The title reads ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ centered above. Motif
on left depicts a maiden with a trident on a mythical sea chariot and a steam
ship is at the centre. The promise text
in Portuguese with denomination in words is below the title, ‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA / PAGARA A VISTA AO
PORTADOR / CINCO RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR REGEBIDO’ which means ‘The Treasurer of the New Goa pay on demand to the
bearer 5 Rupias in cash for value received’. The denomination is in four
languages Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada.
The denomination in numeral ‘5’ is in the central green panel and at the
four corners of the note in English and Urdu alternating. The numerals are printed vertically in the
four languages along the margins on either sides and in a rosette panel towards
lower right side. ‘LISBOA 1 DE JANEIRO DE 1906’ is printed below the language panel at the centre. The bank motto ‘COLONIAS COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ and the Royal Coat of Arms is at the lower
centre of the note. Serial numbers are
printed in red on either side on top.
Round seal in red colour on right side depicts a steam ship at the
centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ above and ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal. Signatory is ‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’ on the right side. Name of printers ‘Bradbury Wilkinson & 6th
Gravadores, Londres’ is at the lower centre margin.
The notes have a
counterfoil with ‘NO…….. / NOVA GOA’ printed. The denomination, and ‘Lisboa / 1 DE JANEIRO De 1906’ is also printed and ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ in italicized fonts vertically along the left margin of the
note. This text printed vertically in
between the counterfoil and the note denotes the margin along which the note
has to be separated.
Reverse
The note has guilloche
pattern in orange and blue colours on the reverse. ‘BANCO NACIONAL’ in an arch above and ‘ULTRAMARINO’ below in a semi-circle
with the motif of a helmeted maiden in the central rosette panel in orange
colour. The denomination in numeral ‘5’
is in the blue coloured panel on either side. Name of printers ‘Bradbury Wilkinson
& 6th Gravadores Londres’ is at the lower end.
Language Panel
Denomination in Urdu,
Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada and English.
Promise Text
‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA / PAGARA A VISTA AO
PORTADOR / CINCO RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR REGEBIDO’.
Seal 1
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below. ‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal used in notes from
1906-1917.
Seal 2
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
Signatory
‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’ on right.
Printers
Bradbury Wilkinson &
6th Gravadores Londres.
Watermark
The watermark of the
Banco Nacional Ultramarino notes reads ‘INDIA PORTUGUEZA
/ BANCO NAC. ULTRAMARINO’ in two lines at the centre towards the lower margin for the 5
Rupias note.
10 Rupias – Dez Rupias
Black
and white template pattern of note
Manuscript
notes in red ‘x finish’ and ‘OK for hardening’
Signatures
dated 27/3/1906 and 28/3/1906
Hand
painted Colour Essay - 10 Rupias – Dez Rupias
Purple
crayon colouring in denomination numerals
10
Rupias – Dez Rupias with Seal 1 – Obverse
10
Rupias – Dez Rupias - Reverse
10 Rupias – Dez Rupias
Obverse
The notes are predominantly in red,
grey and black colour on the obverse. The guilloche in grey and red colours forms a
part of the central panel as an underprint with the border in black pattern. The title reads ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ centered above in an arch, with the promise text below it in
Portuguese. ‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA /
PAGARA A VISTA AO PORTADOR / DEZ RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR REGEBIDO’ which means ‘The Treasurer of the New Goa pay on demand to the
bearer Ten Rupias in cash for value received’.
Motif in the centre is a maiden with a trident on a mythical sea chariot
and a steam ship is on the left below the serial number. The denomination in four languages Urdu,
Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada is on the left.
The promise text with denomination in words is on the right. The denomination in Urdu numeral is on the
left and ‘10’ on the right as an underprint.
‘10’ in a rosette panel at the top right corner and at the lower corners
of the note. The numerals are printed
vertically in the four languages along the margins on either sides. ‘LISBOA 1 DE
JANEIRO DE 1906’ is printed below the promise text on the right. The bank motto ‘COLONIAS COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ is below the steam ship. The Royal Coat of Arms is at the top left
corner in a rosette panel. Prefix ‘No.’
in black and serial numbers are printed in red on either side. Round seal in red colour at the centre with a
steam ship and ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ above and ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal type 1. Signatory is ‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’ on the right side. Name
of printers ‘Bradbury Wilkinson & 6th Gravadores, Londres’ is at
the lower centre margin.
The notes have a
counterfoil with ‘NO…….. / NOVA GOA’ printed. The denomination, and ‘Lisboa / 1 DE JANEIRO De 1906’ is also printed and ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ in italicized fonts vertically along the left margin of the
note. This text printed vertically in
between the counterfoil and the note denotes the margin along which the note
has to be separated.
Reverse
The note has a
rectangular guilloche pattern in green and red colours on the reverse. ‘BANCO NACIONAL’ in an arch above and ‘ULTRAMARINO’ below in a semi-circle
with the motif of a helmeted maiden in the central panel in red colour. The denomination in numeral ‘10’ is in the
green coloured panel on either side.
Language Panel
Denomination in Urdu,
Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada and English.
Promise Text
‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA / PAGARA A VISTA AO
PORTADOR / DEZ RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR REGEBIDO’.
10 Rupias – Dez Rupias
Seal 1
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below. ‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal used in notes from
1906-1917.
Seal 2
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
Signatory
‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’ on right.
Printers
Bradbury Wilkinson &
6th Gravadores Londres.
Watermark
The watermark reads ‘INDIA / PORTUGUEZA’ in two lines on the right side of the note and ‘BANCO NAC. ULTRAMARINO’ centered towards the lower margin.
10
Rupias – Dez Rupias with Seal 2 – Obverse
20 Rupias – Vinte Rupias
Hand
painted Colour Essay with counterfoil - 20 Rupias – Vinte Rupias
· Green coloured denomination numerals
· Manuscript on counterfoil ‘1 de Janeiro de 1906’, notation
in pencil
· Manuscript on note below O Agente ‘This signature is / personally
by hand / writing’
·
Perforated ‘SPECIMEN’ on
right side below signature.
20
Rupias – Vinte Rupias – Specimen - obverse
Perforated
‘CANCELLED’ in centre
20
Rupias – Vinte Rupias
20
Rupias – Vinte Rupias with Seal 1 – Obverse
20
Rupias – Vinte Rupias – Reverse
20
Rupias – Vinte Rupias
Obverse
The notes are predominantly in pale
blue, orange and black colour on the obverse. The guilloche in pale blue and orange colours
forms a part of the central panel as an underprint with the border in black
pattern. The title reads ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ centered above in an arch, with the promise text below it in Portuguese,
‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA /
PAGARA A VISTA AO PORTADOR / VINTE RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR REGEBIDO’ which means ‘The Treasurer of the New Goa pay on demand to the
bearer 20 Rupias in cash for value received’.
Motif in the centre is a maiden with a trident on a mythical sea chariot
and a steam ship on the left below the serial number. The denomination in four languages Urdu,
Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada is on the left.
The promise text with denomination in words is on the right. The denomination in Urdu numeral is on the
left and ‘20’ on the right as an underprint.
‘20’ in a rosette panel at the top right corner and at the lower corners
of the note. The numerals are printed
vertically in the four languages along the margins on either side. ‘LISBOA 1 DE
JANEIRO DE 1906’ is printed below the promise text on the right. The bank motto ‘COLONIAS COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ is below the steam ship. The Royal Coat of Arms is at the top left
corner in a rosette panel. Prefix ‘No.’
in black and serial numbers are printed in red on either side. Round seal in red colour at the centre with a
steam ship and ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ above and ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal type 1. Signatory is ‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’
on the right
side. Name of printers ‘Bradbury
Wilkinson & 6th Gravadores, Londres’ is at the lower centre
margin.
The notes have a
counterfoil with ‘NO…….. / NOVA GOA’ printed. The denomination, and ‘Lisboa / 1 DE JANEIRO De 1906’ is also printed and ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ in italicized fonts vertically along the left margin of the
note. This text printed vertically in
between the counterfoil and the note denotes the margin along which the note
has to be separated.
Reverse
The note has a
rectangular guilloche pattern in violet and rust colours on the reverse. ‘BANCO NACIONAL’ in an arch above and ‘ULTRAMARINO’ below in a semi-circle
with the motif of a helmeted maiden in the central panel in orange colour. The denomination in numeral ‘20’ is in the violet coloured panel on either side.
Language Panel
Denomination in Urdu,
Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada and English.
Promise Text
‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA / PAGARA A VISTA AO
PORTADOR / VINTE RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR REGEBIDO’.
20
Rupias – Vinte Rupias
Seal 1
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below. ‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal used in notes from
1906-1917.
Seal 2
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the bank
motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
Signatory
‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’
on right.
Printers
Bradbury Wilkinson &
6th Gravadores Londres.
Watermark
The watermark reads ‘INDIA / PORTUGUEZA’ in two lines on the right side of the note and ‘BANCO NAC. ULTRAMARINO’ centered towards the lower margin.
20
Rupias – Vinte Rupias with Seal 2 – Obverse
50 Rupias – Cincoenta Rupias
50
Rupias – Cincoenta Rupias - Specimen – Obverse
50
Rupias – Cincoenta Rupias - Specimen – Reverse
50
Rupias – Cincoenta Rupias with Seal 1 – Obverse
50 Rupias – Cincoenta Rupias
Obverse
The notes are predominantly in yellow, grey
and black colour on the obverse. The guilloche in yellow and grey colours
forms a part of the central panel as an underprint with the border in black
pattern. The title reads ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ centered above in an arch, with the promise text below it in
Portuguese, ‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA /
PAGARA A VISTA AO PORTADOR / CINCOENTA RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR
REGEBIDO’ which means ‘The Treasurer of the New Goa pay on demand to the
bearer 50 Rupias in cash for value received’.
Motif in the centre is a maiden with a trident on a mythical sea chariot
and a steam ship on the left below the serial number. The denomination in four languages Urdu,
Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada is on the left.
The promise text with denomination in words is on the right. The denomination in Urdu numeral is on the
left and ‘50’ on the right as an underprint.
‘50’ in a rosette panel at the top right corner and at the lower corners
of the note. The numerals are printed
vertically in the four languages along the margins on either side. ‘LISBOA 1 DE
JANEIRO DE 1906’ is printed below the promise text on the right. The bank motto ‘COLONIAS COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ is below the steam ship. The Royal Coat of Arms is at the top left
corner in a rosette panel. Prefix ‘No.’
in black and serial numbers are printed in red on either side. Round seal in red colour at the centre with a
steam ship and ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ above and ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal type 1.
50 Rupias – Cincoenta Rupias
Signatory is ‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’ on the right side. Name of printers ‘Bradbury Wilkinson & 6th
Gravadores, Londres’ is at the lower centre margin.
The notes have a
counterfoil with ‘NO…….. / NOVA GOA’ printed. The denomination, and ‘Lisboa / 1 DE JANEIRO De 1906’ is also printed and ‘BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO’ in italicized fonts vertically along the left margin of the
note. This text printed vertically in
between the counterfoil and the note denotes the margin along which the note
has to be separated.
Reverse
The note has a
rectangular guilloche pattern in orange and green colours on the reverse. ‘BANCO NACIONAL’ in an arch above and ‘ULTRAMARINO’ below in a semi-circle
with the motif of a helmeted maiden in the central panel in green colour. The denomination in numeral ‘50’ is in the
orange coloured panel on either side.
Language Panel
Denomination in Urdu,
Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada and English.
Promise Text
‘O THESOUREIRO DA SUCCURSSAL EM / NOVA GOA / PAGARA A VISTA AO
PORTADOR / CINCOENTA RUPIAS / EM MOEDA CORRENTE VALOR REGEBIDO’
Seal 1
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below. ‘LISBOA’ is printed below the steam ship on the seal used in notes from
1906-1917.
Seal 2
Round seal in red colour
with a steam ship at the centre with ‘BANCO NACIONAL
ULTRAMARINO’ above and the
bank motto ‘COLONIA COMMERCIO AGRICULTURA’ below.
Signatory
‘O Agente’ on left and ‘O Governador’ and ‘O Vice Governador’ on right.
Printers
Bradbury Wilkinson &
6th Gravadores Londres.
Watermark
The watermark reads ‘INDIA / PORTUGUEZA’ in two lines on the right side of the note and ‘BANCO NAC. ULTRAMARINO’ centered towards the lower margin.
The design of the 1906
notes of Banco Nacional Ultramarino evolved from a simple manuscript design
template to a hand painted colour essay.
We need to appreciate that the designers did not have access to
technology or computers at that time.
Inspite of this, they have produced a beautiful masterpiece. They have also factored in the security
features in the form of guilloche and underprints. All in all, it has been a stupendous effort
to produce one of the most beautiful notes of Indian Paper Money.
These 1906 notes of Banco
Nacional Ultramarino were succeeded by the 1917 issue, and thereafter by note
issues of 1924, 1929, 1938, 1945 and lastly by the 1959 issue.
-
Rezwan Razack
co-Author ‘The Revised
Standard Reference Guide to Indian Paper Money’
Author ‘One Rupee One
Hundred Years 1917-2017’
Chairman - IBNS India
Banknote Collectors’ Chapter; IBNS # 9733
Rezwan Razack’s Museum of
Indian Paper Money
URL:
www.indianbanknotes.com; Blog: www.indianbanknote.blogspot.com
E-mail:
properties@prestigeconstructions.com, indiancurrencymuseum@gmail.com,
info@indianbanknotes.com
Tel: +91-80-25591080 /
+91-80-25001124
