British Burma Banknotes

British Burma banknotes represent a unique and historically significant part of colonial-era currency, shaped by evolving governance, wartime disruption, and the road to independence. On 1 April 1937, Burma became a separately administered British colony, yet its financial system remained under the control of the Government of India, as outlined in The India and Burma (Burma Monetary Arrangements) Order, 1937.

During this transitional phase, King George V Government of India notes were circulated in Burma with the overprint "LEGAL TENDER IN BURMA ONLY." Initially printed in black, the overprint was changed to red in late 1937 to improve visibility against the note designs.

Between 1938 and 1939, the Reserve Bank of India introduced the visually striking Peacock Series, which featured the portrait of King George VI and the country name "BURMA"—a distinct departure from earlier shared designs. In 1942, as Japanese forces occupied Burma during World War II, British authorities took measures to prevent enemy access to financial resources by cutting and destroying high-denomination notes.

As the British retook Burma in 1945, the Military Administration of Burma was established. During this period, RBI and Government of India notes—including 1, 5, 10, and 100 Rupees—were overprinted with "Military Administration of Burma." In 1947, the newly formed and short-lived Burma Currency Board, based in London, assumed control of currency issuance and applied its own "Burma Currency Board" overprint to the same denominations. On 4 January 1948, Burma achieved full independence, bringing an end to British colonial administration and the final chapter of its shared monetary history with India.

For collectors, British Burma banknotes are treasured for their scarcity, historical context, and distinctive overprints that clearly set them apart from standard British India issues. They offer a rare window into the transitional phases of a colony navigating war, administration, and independence.

The History of British Burma Currency

Discover our curated selection of British Burma banknotes, including King George V overprinted issues and the iconic King George VI Peacock Series. This collection also features notes from the Military Administration of Burma and the Burma Currency Board — each representing a distinct phase in Burma’s colonial currency history. New notes are added regularly, so check back often to explore more.

Our British Burma Banknote Collection

King George V Era

Pick A8d – British Burma KGV 100 Rupees Cut Note with Japanese Chop Mark
Grade: Cut Note • Price: $500

King George VI Era

Pick 4 – British Burma 5 Rupees Peacock Note
Grade: PMG 58 • Price: $440

Pick 25a – British Burma 1 Rupee Overprint Black Serial Prefix U/0
Grade: PMG 65 EPQ • Price: $1,600

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🔗 Explore More Banknote Series

Continue your journey through India’s currency history with other collectible note series, from British colonial issues to post-independence paper money.

🔹 British India Banknotes
Discover the earliest official paper money of colonial India, including both uniface and portrait notes issued before independence.

🔹 King George V Banknotes
Explore the first portrait banknotes of British India, spanning multiple denominations from the 1910s to 1930s.

🔹 King George VI Banknotes
Explore notes featuring King George VI, issued in the late colonial and transitional years leading up to India’s independence.

🔹 King George VI Pakistan Banknotes
View British India notes lithographed with “Government of Pakistan” text — issued shortly after the 1947 partition for use in Pakistan.

🔹 Dominion of India Banknotes
Browse post-independence, pre-republic currency that retained the King’s portrait but marked the shift toward sovereignty.

🔹 Republic India Banknotes
See the Ashoka Pillar and Mahatma Gandhi series that define India’s official post-republic paper money.

🔹 Fancy Serial Number Banknotes
Discover banknotes with collectible serial patterns like solid numbers, ladders, low numbers, million number, and more.

🔹 Other Rare Indian Banknotes
Uncover unique issues from French India, Portuguese India, Gulf circulation, and Princely States that fall outside standard categories.

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting out, these curated categories offer a rich view into the historical, political, and artistic evolution of Indian currency notes.

🛒 Browse All Banknotes - View our complete collection of Indian banknotes across all regions and eras.
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