Did you know series(8) ; Twenty (20) Rupee Notes ; Classification and valuation.

 DID YOU KNOW SERIES (8) ; TWENTY RUPEE NOTES ;

CLASSIFICATION AND VALUATION:

TWENTY RUPEE NOTES :

CLASSIFICATION AND VALUATION:

Historical reference:

1)   The first twenty rupee notes were released on 01.06.1972 during the tenure of S.Jagannathan (RBI Governor 16.06.1970-19.05.1975). The size of these experimental notes was 63x147 mm.  The front side has a shield-shaped watermark window on the left side and the Lion Capital on the right, also placed in a shield-shaped window. There is a large white numeral “20”in the centre in intaglio (incised or raised design). The colours on the note were predominantly – red, orange, white, with the note numbers mentioned in black. On the back were 13 Regional languages given in a panel, besides Hindi and English and an image of the Indian Parliament (much like on the back of the fifty rupee initial note issues. 

2)      There was a design change during the tenure of S. Jagannathan itself and the colour scheme changed to red, orange, yellow and multi-coloured. The colour of the numeral “20” was changed to black from white .The Lion Capital size became much larger then the earlier issues and the water-mark window changed from a “shield-like” look to a “circular” design. On the reverse/back of the note, the Parliament design was changed to represent the ornately carved wheel at the Konark Sun Temple in Orissa, with floral patterns/motifs. There is a stylized Sum shining on the Konark Sun Temple/Wheel. This design/format continued during the tenures of K.R.Puri, M.Narasimhan, I.G.Patel, Manmohan Singh, R.N. Malhotra, C. Rangarajan and Bimal Jalan. The words “Satyameva Jayate” were mentioned for the first time below the Lion Capital during the time of C.Rangarajan.  

The above is a image of a Rs. Twenty Banknote issued during the tenure of RBI Governor Manmohan Singh which is in a soiled condition. Notice that the words "Satyameva Jayate" are not inscribed below the Lion Capitol of Emperor Asoka on the tight hand side of the Note. These Banknotes were issued with an "A" Inset during his tenure. (Insets are explained after the next Banknote which is in mint condition).

               The Back of the above Banknote.

The above is an image of a 20 Rupee Note issued under the signatures of Dr. C.Rangarajan (RBI Governor from 22.12.1992 to 22.11.1997). Notice the large Lion Capital of Emperor Asoka on the tight hand side of the Note with the words “Satyameva Jayate” below it. If you look at the serial number of the Note,the prefix of the above Note is ‘26A’ is the Prefix, the serial No. is ‘136687’. There is the letter “C”of the alphabet mentioned in the background of the serial number.  Hence, this note is said to have been issued with a “C” Inset.

This Twenty Rupee Note has been issued under Dr. Rangarajan’s signature with an Inset “B”.

(20 Rupee Notes were issued during Dr. Rangarajan’s tenure with Insets “B” and “C”).

The back of both the above Notes looks like the image above and has no year mentioned on it. (The years were mentioned on the back of twenty rupee currency Notes from 2006 onwards).

3)      The above design was changed and the large Asoka Lion Capital design was replaced by the Mahatma Gandhi portrait design which is predominantly in circulation, today. The Lion Capital with the words “Satyameva Jayate” inscribed below it moved to the bottom left of the 20 Rupee Notes. Also, the Gandhi image was used in the watermark window on the left hand side for the first time.

Twenty Rupee Notes presently in circulation:

You may still come across the 20 rupee Notes issued under Dr. C.Rangarajan’s signature with the Konark Sun Temple Wheel on the back in circulation today , with the Notes in almost in mint fresh condition, but their numbers are fast dwindling . I have picked up the two Notes,  images of which I have given above only during the last two months at provision stores. The value of these Notes in mint conditions is placed by collectors at between Rs.50/- to say about Rs.150/-

The above is an image of a 20 Rupee Note issued under the signature of Dr. Bimal Jalan( RBI Governor 22.11.1997 to 06.09.2003), with a “Plain Inset” under the Mahatma Gandhi series.

The above is a 20 Rupee Note issued under Dr. Jalan’s signature with an “A” Inset.

The above is a 20 Rupee Note issued under Dr. Jalan’s signature with an “R” Inset

(20 Rupee Notes were issued during Dr. Jalan’s tenure with “Plain “ Inset,”A” Inset and “R” Inset under the Gandhi series, while under the large Asoka Capital series, 20 Rupee Notes were issued under his signature with a “C” Inset).

The back of all the three Notes presented above looks like this. No year of issue is mentioned on the back. The numeral “20” appears on three cormers, with the denomination of the note mentioned in words “TWENTY RUPEES” mentioned on the bottom right hand side. Also seen on the back of the Note is an image of the Bay with Palm trees and a light-house and stylized floral designs flanking the picture of the Bay and Palm trees.Leaves shown on a Panel complete the picture at the bottom.

( The value of 20 Rupee Notes issued during Dr. Jalan’s tenure is between Rs.40/- and Rs.125/- or more).

The following images are of 20 rupee notes which I have in my collection issued under the signatures of Dr. Y.V.Reddy (RBI Governor from 06.09.2003 to 05.09.2008).

The above note is issued with an “E” Inset. The letter ‘E’ is in the background of the serial number. This is a 20 Rupee Note issued during the early part of Dr. Reddy’s tenure.

The back of the above note has no year mentioned on it, indicating the year of issue.

The above note is issued with an “E”Inset during 2007.

The back image of the above “E” inset note which was issued in 2007 with the year of issue mentioned below the image of the Bay.

The above is the front of a 20 Rupee Note is issued with an “E”Inset during 2008.

(20 Rupee Notes with “E” Inset were also issued in 2006 with the year of issue mentioned at the back for the first time in this denomination).

The back of the above “E” Inset note which was issued in 2008 with the year of issue mentioned below the image of the Bay.

The above note is issued with a “Plain” Inset. This is a 20 Rupee Note issued in 2006 during Dr. Reddy’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2006.

The above note is issued with a “Plain” Inset. This is a 20 Rupee Note issued in 2007 during Dr. Reddy’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2007.

The above note is issued with a “Plain” Inset. This is a 20 Rupee Note issued in 2008 during Dr. Reddy’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2008.

The above note is issued with a “R” Inset. This is a 20 Rupee Note issued in 2008 during Dr. Reddy’s tenure. 

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2007.

 (“R” Inset 20 Rupee Notes were also issued under Dr. Reddy’s signature in the early part of his tenure with the year of issue not mentioned at the back and also in 2006 and 2008 with the year of issue mentioned at the back.

 The value of 20 Rupee Notes issued during Dr. Reddy’s tenure could be about Rs. 300/- (for Notes issues with “A” Inset during the early part of his tenure), progressively scaling down to about Rs.40/- for other issues).

 The following images are of 20 rupee notes which I have in my collection issued under the signatures of Dr. D. Subbarao  (RBI Governor from 06.09.2008 to present day).

The above note is issued with a “Plain” Inset in 2009 during Dr. Subbarao’s tenure.

 The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2009. 

The above note is issued with a “Plain” Inset in 2010 during Dr. Subbarao’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2010.

The above note is issued with an “R” Inset in 2010 during Dr. Subbarao’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2010.

The above note is issued with an “R” Inset in 2011 during Dr. Subbarao’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2011.

The above note is issued with an “E” Inset in 2009 during Dr. Subbarao’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2009.

The above note is issued with an “E” Inset in 2010 during Dr. Subbarao’s tenure.

The back of the above Note showing the year of issue as 2010. Notes with "E" Inset were also issued in 2011.

 (The value of 20 Rupee Notes issued during Dr. Subbarao’s tenure could be about Rs. 125/- progressively scaling down to about Rs.40/- for later issues).

Posted on 08.11.12: 

After a very long search for a rupee symbol 20 (twenty) rupee note, including requesting several of my ex-SBI colleagues, I managed to get one from my friend Dennis in Gurgaon whom I was visiting last week. 

 The front of the twenty rupee note issued in 2012, exhibits the rupee symbol before the numerals "20" mentioned on the left and right side of the Note.

 As on the front of the Note, the rupee symbol is displayed before the numerals "20" on the top left and right hand sides of the note. In the centre bottom of the Back is mentioned the year of issue "2012".

Posted on 05.09.2013:

The front of this twenty rupee note issued in 2013, exhibits the rupee symbol before the numerals "20" mentioned on the left and right side of the Note.
I picked up this Banknote during a trip to Lonavla, the hill-station near Pune yesterday.

On the Back, the rupee symbol is displayed before the numerals "20" on the top left and right hand sides of the note. In the centre bottom of the Back is mentioned the year of issue "2013". This Note is somewhat worn out, so I am hoping that I will be able to collect some mint condition pieces as these would be the last few 20 rupees notes issued under the signature of RBI Governor Dr. Subbarao, as Raghuram Rajan has now taken over as the new RBI Governor.

Posted on 23.01.2014:

Reserve Bank of India has now decided to withdraw all currency notes issued prior to 2005, without specifically mentioning that these Banknotes will cease to be legal tender. From April 2014 all Banks will accept and exchange pre-2005 Banknotes. These Banknotes are easily identified by the absence of the year of printing on the Back of the Note. RBI estimates that the maximum number of fake currency Banknotes are from the period prior to 2005. From 01.07.2014, to exchange more than 10 pieces of Rs.500/- and Rs.1000/- banknotes, non-customers will have to furnish identity and address proof to the Bank Branch.  However, it is expected that later on RBI will issue a communication advising users the final date upto which Banknotes prior to 2005 will be accepted by the Bank. 

Therefore, please start examining the year of issue"at the back of the currency Notes passing through your hands, so as not to face the inconvenience of going to a Bank Branch for returning the currency issued prior to 2005.

While this is a welcome step, RBI needs to have a policy in place to take the remaining counterfeit Banknotes issued after 2005, like changing/revamping the Front and Back designs, adding more effective security features etc. so as not to put users at risk of accepting counterfeit currency Banknotes.

 Posted on 03.03.2014:   

   The Reserve Bank of India has extended the date for exchanging the pre-2005 banknotes to January 01, 2015. It has also advised banks to facilitate the exchange of these notes for full value and without causing any inconvenience whatsoever to the public.

   RBI has further clarified that the public can continue to freely use these notes for any transaction and can unhesitatingly receive these notes in payment, as all such notes continue to remain legal tender till that date.
 Posted on 15.08.14 (Camp:Chennai):

I have today received my first Rupees Twenty Banknote signed by Raghuram G.Rajan . These Banknotes were proposed to be put into circulation anytime after May 2014.

 The Front of the Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan bearing serial number 87A 470461 issued with a Plain Inset in 2014.

 The Back of the above Banknote showing the year of issue as 2014.

 Now I am on the lookout for "E" Inset & "R" Inset Rs.20 banknotes, whose circulation has been announced by the Reserve Bank of India in the last week of June 2014.

Posted on 31.12.14: 

 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for turning in pre-2005 Banknotes to 30.06.2015. While these Banknotes would be treated as legal tender upto this period, but RBI would destroy them as and when they come into Bank branches. 

RBI has sought the general public’s cooperation and urged them to deposit the old design Banknotes in their Bank accounts or exchange them at a bank branch convenient to them. 

RBI has further mentioned that the Banknotes can be exchanged for their full value till this date. Check out all your Banknotes and deposit all such Banknotes ( i.e. without the year of issue printed at the back) at convenient Bank branches before the scheduled date.

Posted on 28.02.2015:
The undernoted packet of Rs.20/- Banknotes has been brought for my collection by Dennis, who is visiting us in Pune: 

The Front of the Rs.20/- packet bearing the sealed band of the Mysore Printing Press issued during the tenure of RBI Governor D. Subbarao.

The Back of the above Note packet bearing the year of issue as 2013.

Posted on 07.03.2015: 

Today I picked up a Rs.20/- Banknote with an "E" Inset issued with the signatures of RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan in 2014 at the local Provisions store. This banknote is in a rather soiled condition. Will replace it when I get a better one.

The Front of the Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with an "E" Inset in 2014.

 The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2014.

 Now I am on the lookout for an "R" Inset Banknote issued in 2014, which is the only other Inset issued this year so far.


Posted on 26.06.2015:

The Reserve Bank of India has extended the date for the public to exchange their pre-2005 banknotes till December 31, 2015. It had, in December 2014, set the last date for public to exchange these notes as June 30, 2015.

Soliciting cooperation from members of public in withdrawing these banknotes from circulation, the Reserve Bank of India has urged them to deposit the old design notes in their bank accounts or exchange them at a bank branch convenient to them.

The Reserve Bank has further stated that the notes can be exchanged for their full value. It has also clarified that all such notes continue to remain legal tender.
Posted on 31.07.2016:

I am updating this post after a long time now. I realised that I had neglected this post for updation for some time now till Zaheer Hasan reminded me by sending a few images of Banknotes in his collection for placing on this post.

The Front of a Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with an "E" Inset and bearing the Serial no. "25K 869491" issued in 2014. This Mint condition Banknote has recently come into my collection

 The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2014.

 The Front of a Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with a "Plain" Inset and bearing the Serial no. "82L 992349" issued in 2015.

  The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2015.

 The Front of a Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with an "E" Inset and bearing the Serial no. "11R 077119" issued in 2015. 

  The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2015.

The following Banknote images have been sent by Zaheer Hasan for illustration: 

The Front of a Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with an "R" Inset and bearing the Serial no. "36B 724911" issued in 2014.

  The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2014.

 The Front of a Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with an "A" Inset and bearing the Serial no. "63B 729157" issued in 2016. Notice that the exploding font format (Ascending Serial Numbers) has not been introduced in this Banknote upto this point.

 The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2016.

 The Front of a Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with an "E" Inset and bearing the Serial no. "86 K 657358" issued in 2016.

The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2016.

Posted on 03.12.2016:

 I have come across the undernoted Banknote exhibiting the revised features (contained in RBI's Press release dated 15.09.2016 detailed further below) that new Rs. 20/- Banknotes are to be issued with Dr.Urjit Patel's signature (present RBI Governor) with an "R" Inset. Instead this Banknote, has been issued with an "L" Inset and has been signed by his predecessor RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan:

 The Front of this new design Rs.20/- Banknote recently put into circulation under the signature of the previous RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan bears the Serial no. 98B 651646 in the ascending font format and has an "L" Inset. Notice that it does not contain the Rectangular Identification feature (meant as an assist to the visually challenged persons) among other changes, including no intaglio print (raised) and printing in Off-set

 The Back of the above Banknote does not exhibit any change on this face and is identical to previous issues. It bears the year of issue as "2016".

 Now for the extremely interesting part for Banknote Collectors:

RBI  vide its Press release dated 2016-2017/1004 signed by Ajit Prasad Assistant Advisor, has notified on 24th October 2016 as follows: 

"The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue Rs.20/- denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005, with the inset letter "L" in both the number panels bearing the signature of Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan and the year of printing "2016" printed on the reverse of the banknote. 

The design and security features of these banknotes to be issued now is similar to the Rs.20/- banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series - 2005 issued recently with the ascending size of numerals in the number panels, without intaglio printing, without latent image and without identification mark. 

The colour at the obverse of the notes remains lighter due to removal of intaglio printing (Ref: Press release No. 2016-2017/678 dated September 15, 2016). All the Banknotes in the denomination of Rs.20/- issued by the Bank in the past will continue to be legal tender".

What are the issues here? 

This notification is dated 24.10.2016, whereas, Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan had relinquished the office of RBI Governor at the end of the first week of September 2016.It mentions Dr. Rajan as "RBI Governor" on a date when he had relinquished the office of RBI Governor at the end of the first week of September 2016. Does it mean that two RBI Governors were in charge of office till the date of issue of this notification i.e. 24.10.2016?

  This Notification refers, inter alia, to the Press release dated 15.09.2016, in which RBI had notified that the revised design Rs.20/- Banknotes would be issued under Dr. Urjit Patel's signature with the inset "R". Does this later Notification not inter alia undermine the authority & position of the present RBI Governor Dr. Urjit Patel? 

The question which arises is why did RBI put these Banknotes into circulation so late, much after the then RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan was still in office? 

Another question arises - whether this Banknote will be treated as legal tender, considering that it was issued after Dr. Rajan has relinquished office?  

Apparently, on the authority of Ajit Prasad's notification, it will for all practical purposes be treated as legal tender.

Posted on 14.12.2016:

After demonetisation of the higher denominations of Rs.1000/- and Rs.500/- has taken place, these have been enormous queues outside Bank Branches, which have been running out of currency to dispense to the  customers who have been thronging to draw cash to meet their day-to-day requirements at establishments/outlets where Credit cards and debit cards are still to be installed.

I happened to be given the undernoted packet of Rs.20/- by one Bank branch three days ago, on my request: 

 The Front of the Rupees Twenty Banknote packet of 100 pieces issued with an "E" Inset in 2015, under the signatures of the previous RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan

 The Back of the above Banknote packet showing the year of issue as 2015

Posted on 11.02.2017 from my collection:

 The Front of a Rs. Twenty Banknote signed by present RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan  issued with an "S" Inset and bearing the Serial no. "39B 169399" issued in 2016. 

 The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2016.

 Now take a look at this Banknote issued in 2016, bearing Serial no. "65A 239266" issued with an "E" Inset. While it exhibits the same features as the previous issues, the Serial number is in the "exploding font" format (ascending Serial numbers). This is the first time that exploding fonts were introduced in this denomination.

 The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2016.

Reserve Bank of India on 15.09.2016 vide its Press release dated 2016-2017/678 after RBI Govenor Urjit Patel has taken over from the ex-RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan recently, has come out with several changes being made in regard to the design of Rupees Twenty Banknotes:

This Press Release states, inter alia,  that RBI will be shortly issuing Rupees twenty Banknotes bearing RBI Governor Urjit Patel's signatures with the Inset "R" in both the number panels, with the following features:

- they will bear the Ascending Font Serial numbers, while the three Alpha-numeric prefix characters will remain constant in size (i.e. have the same size).

-  the Intaglio (raised) printing has been removed from the numeral "20", Mahatma Gandhi portrait, RBI legend, Guarantee and Promise Clause, Governor's signature, Ashoka Pillar Emblem, and these features will now be printed in "Offset" (i.e. without any raised printing). 

- the Rectangular Identification Mark for assistance to the visually challenged persons on the left hand side is now being withdrawn/removed.

- the colour on the Back is the same as previous issues, but the colour on the Front will be lighter (due to the removal of Intaglio printing).

- All the Banknotes of Rs.20/- denomination issued by RBI in the past will continue to be legal tender.
 

I have yesterday acquired the above Banknote which has been issued with the changes contained in above Press Release of RBI from the exit gate at Ruby Hall courtesy of Rini Boudi. This Banknote bearing Serial number "71B 209585" and issued with an "R" Inset, is among the first issues signed by the new RBI Governor Urjit R. Patel exhibiting the new design introduced with the issue of this Series. The Serial numbers are in the Ascending numerals format, the rectangular identification mark on the left (which was an assist for the visually impaired persons) has been removed, the colour on the Front is lighter due to Off-set printing, instead of "Intaglio Printing" (Raised Printing - which was another assist for the visually impaired persons).

 The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2016 and exhibits no change in the earlier design.
Posted on 22.02.2017:

I have today acquired the undernoted Banknote which has been issued with the changes contained in above Press Release of RBI, from a shopping mall where I collect my provisions from:

 This Banknote bearing Serial number "10A 505729" and issued with an "L" Inset, is among the  issues signed by the new RBI Governor Urjit R. Patel in 2016, exhibiting the new design introduced with the issue of this Series.

  The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as 2016 and exhibits no change in the earlier design.

Posted on 30.03.2017:

Yesterday I have got back the undernoted Banknote from a restaurant, who gave me three Banknotes of Rs.20/- denomination issued in 2017, signed by RBI Governor Urjit R. Patel:

The above Banknote bearing serial no. "06D 632755" and issued with a "Plain Inset" has been issued under the signature of Urjit R. Patel, present RBI Governor in "2017"  and exhibits the new design features introduced in this denomination recently.

The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as "2017" and exhibits no change in the earlier design. 

 Posted on 04.07.2017:

The Reserve Bank of India has adopted the "Star" series numbering system for replacement of defectively printed Banknotes at the printing presses. To begin with, this system was effected for all Banknotes in the denominations of Rs.10/-, Rs.20/-, Rs.50/- and was later extended to Rs. 100/- enominations. More recently, Rs.500/- Banknotes have also been included in this system.

The Star Series Banknotes look exactly like the existing Mahatma Gandhi Series Banknotes, but have an additional character viz., a "*"(star) in the number panel in the space between the prefix and the number. The packets containing these Banknotes are, therefore, not serially numbred but contain 100 Banknotes as usual. To facilitate easy identification, the bands on such packets clearly indicate the presence of such Banknotes in the packet & carry a message "Contains non-Serially Numbered Notes with * in the number panel. These Banknotes command a higher premium than their face value and are much sought after by Collectors.

I have got this Rs.20/- Banknote at a vegetable vendor's outlet. Though much worn out with use, it is the first Rs.20/- Star Series Banknote in my possession and illustrates the above narration:

 The above Banknote bearing serial no. "02F 108614" ( in the exploding font format in its Serial number) and issued with an "L" has been issued under the signature of Raghuram G. Rajan, the previous RBI Governor in "2016"  and exhibits the "*" (Star) in the number panel.

The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as "2016" and exhibits no change in the earlier design.

Posted on 25.08.2017:

Two days ago,  I received the undernoted Banknote as change at a shopping mall in the Rs.20/- denomination issued in 2017, signed by RBI Governor Urjit R. Patel:

The above Banknote bearing serial no. "68D 624359" and issued with an "L Inset" bears the signature of Urjit R. Patel, present RBI Governor  and has been issued in "2017" . This Banknote exhibits the new design features introduced in this denomination recently.

The Back of the above Banknote  showing the year of issue as "2017" and exhibits no change in the earlier design. 

Posted on 02.01.2018:

I have collected the under noted Rs.20/- Banknote a few days ago from general circulation:

The above Rs.20/- Banknote bearing Serial No. "25W 769859" has been issued in "2017" with an "R" Inset, under the signature of RBI Governor Urjit R. Patel and exhibits the new design on the front face

The Back of the above Banknote shows no change from the earlier design  and shows the year of issue at the bottom as "2017".

Posted on 19.07.2018:

I picked up this Twenty Rupee Note at the nearly shopping mall at the exit gate when I was paying the parking fee for our car. This Banknote has been issued in 2018 under the signatures of Urjit R. Patel, present RBI Governor. This is my first Banknote for the year "2018":

This Banknote on the Front bears the Serial no. "88Q 411494" and has been issued with an "L" Inset under RBI Governor Shri Urjit R. Patel's signatures. This Banknote has been issued in "2018"

   The Back of this Banknote is identical to the earlier issues and exhibits the year of issue as "2018" at the bottom

Posted on 28.04.2019:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has vide its Press release no. 2018-2019/2555 dated 26.04.2019 advised that a new Rs.20/- Banknote in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series is going to be introduced in general circulation shortly. The Banknote will bear the signature of Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor of Reserve Bank of India. 

The new denomination has the motif of Ellora Caves on the Back, depicting the country's cultural heritage. The base colour of the Note is Greenish Yellow. The Note has other designs, geometric patterns aligning with the overall colour scheme - both on the Front and Back.

The Salient Features of the new Rs.20/- Banknote:

Front:

1. See through Register with denominational numeral 20

2. Denominational numeral 20 in Devanagri/Hindi

3. Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre
4. Micro letters "RBI", "BHARAT" (in Hindi/Devanagri), "INDIA" and "20"
5. Windowed demetalised security thread with inscriptions "BHARAT" (in Hindi/Devanagri) and RBI
6. Guarantee clause, Governor's signature with Promise Clause and RBI emblem towards right of Mahatma Gandhi portrait
7. Ashoka Pillar emblem at right
8. Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (20) watermarks
9. Number panel with numerals growing from small to big on the top left side and bottom right side.

Back:

10. Year of printing of the note on the left
11. "Swachh Bharat" logo with slogan
12. Language panel
13. Motif of Ellora Caves
14. Denominational numeral "20" (in Hindi/Devanagri)
15. The Dimensions of the Banknote will be 63.0 mm x 129 mm

Posted on 22.08.2019:

Zaheer Khan, who is an avid Banknote Collector has sent me images of the undernoted Banknotes of Rs.20/- denomination issued in 2019 under the signatures of present RBI Governor, Shri Shaktikanta Das:

The Front of this newly introduced Rs.20/- Banknote bears the Serial No. "34A 157992" and has been issued with a "Plain Inset". This Banknote has been issued under the signatures of Shri Shaktikanta Das in "2019" and bears all the design features described above.

The Front of this new Rs.20/- Banknote issued in 2019, exhibits a * in its serial number, indicating that it has been issued in lieu of a misprinted Banknote. The Serial No. of this Banknote is "00F*413580" and it has been issued with an "L Inset" under the signature of Shri Shaktikanta Das, present RBI Governor. (A detailed description of * Series Banknotes is contained in my update posted on 04.07.2017 elsewhere in this post). 

 

The Back of the new Rs.20/- Banknote exhibits an image of the Ellora Caves, more specifically of the Kailasha Temple, which has huge sculptures, Hindu Mythology legends et al. 

For more interesting facts about our trip to Aurangabad & the Ellora Caves, please click on the following link for Sumita's post on her blog "Footloose" : Aurangabad - History at its best  and  2)"Ajanta & Ellora Caves": "MyStamps" (issued by India Post): Sumita and Rajeev





 
 Links to other posts on Indian Currency denominations on this blog:

1) Introduction of the new Rs.2000/- denomination in Indian Currency circulation wef 10.11.2016 

2) Classification and Valuation of Rs.1000/- denomination Banknotes 

 3) Classification and Valuation of Rs.500/- Banknotes

  4)Classification and Valuation of Rs.100/- Notes

5) Classification and Valuation of Rs.50/- Notes 

6) Classification and Valuation of Rs.20/- Notes 

7) Classification and Valuation of Rs.10/- Notes 

8) Classification and Valuation of Rs.5/- Notes 

9) Evolution and Valuation of one Rupee Banknotes in India

10) Did-you-know-series-1: Assists for identification of Currency Notes by visually challenged users 

11) Did-you-know-series-2-what-is-design-or focus of the picture at the back of circulating Currency Notes in India? 

12) Are you carrying a Fake Rs.500/- Banknote in your purse/wallet?: A comprehensive study 

13) Introduction of a Rs.200/- Banknote wef 25.08.2017: Reasons for introduction, Necessity & convenience to Users

Some interesting links on Indian coins on this Blog:

1) Independent India issues: The evolution of the One Rupee Coin, the staedy building block of the Indian Monetary System

2) The Frozen Series and the early Indian Government issues

3) The Indian Coinage Act 1957 and the Decimal Series - 1957-64

4) The Aluminium Series 1964-1999

5) Independent India issues: The introduction and experiments of social themes on the two-rupee coins

6) Foreign mints which have minted coins for India and identification of their mint marks

7) Indian Mints & their mint marks

8) The introduction and stabilisation of the Five Rupee Coin in the Indian context

8) Independent India issues: 25 Paise Coins: the journey from usage over five decades to stepping into history

9) Fifty Paise Coin: The lowest denomination coin presently in circulation: Is it next on the chopping block?

10) Post Independence India Issues: Commemorating Sports in Indian Coinage

11) A Proof Coin set of Indian Coins from 1973, issued by the then Bombay Mint (present day Mumbai Mint), which includes Coins in the denominations of 1 Paise to 20 Rupees