Republic India Banknotes

Republic India banknotes mark a defining era in the nation’s monetary history — beginning with the establishment of the Republic on 26 January 1950. These notes reflect India’s newly asserted national identity, no longer featuring foreign monarchs but instead embracing indigenous symbols, languages, and design philosophies.

The earliest banknotes of this era replaced the portrait of King George VI with the Ashoka Pillar emblem, symbolizing the authority of the Republic. These were followed by various design refinements and the introduction of regional languages, improved security features. In the later decades, the Mahatma Gandhi series emerged as the dominant design, portraying the Father of the Nation and reinforcing India’s post-independence values.

For collectors, Republic India banknotes offer a broad and evolving landscape — from early post-colonial designs to special issues for overseas circulation, such as the Gulf Rupee series. Each note represents a stage in India’s economic and political transformation. Below is our curated and expanding collection of Republic India banknotes.

The Evolution of Republic India Currency

Discover our curated selection of Republic India banknotes, featuring iconic designs such as the Ashoka Pillar emblem and the later Mahatma Gandhi series. This collection including notes intended for domestic use as well as special Gulf issues circulated abroad. Each banknote reflects the evolution of India’s post-independence identity through its official currency. New notes are added regularly, so check back often to explore more.

Our Republic India Banknote Collection

Ashoka Pillar Issues

Pick 41 – India 100 Rupees English Only Kanpur U Prefix
Grade: AU • Price: $950

Gulf Rupee Issues

Special RBI-issued notes for use in Gulf countries, part of India’s currency strategy in the post-independence era.

Pick R1 – Persian Gulf Rupee 1 Rupee Red Color Z Prefix
Grade: VF • Price: $320

Pick R3 – Persian Gulf Rupee 10 Rupees Red Orange Color Z Prefix
Grade: VF • Price: $850

Mahatma Gandhi Issues

Banknotes featuring the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi will be added soon.

We’re always updating our collection of British India banknotes. If you’re searching for a particular note — whether by Pick number, year, issuing circle, prefix, or any variety — we’d love to help.

👉 Submit your want list here and we’ll notify you when we find a match.

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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.

🔹 British Burma Banknotes
Find notes used in Burma during colonial rule, including King George V overprints, RBI-issued peacock notes, and King George VI overprints.

🔹 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.

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

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

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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