India new 500- and 2,000-rupee notes (B303a and B305a) reported for introduction on 10.11.2016

In a surprise move, India demonetized all 500- and 1,000-rupee notes as of 9 November 2016, “to tackle counterfeiting Indian banknotes, to effectively nullify black money hoarded in cash, and curb funding of terrorism with fake notes.” The old notes can be deposited at any RBI branch with valid proof of identity. The first of the “Mahatma Gandhi (New)” series to be issued are 500- and 2,000-rupee notes.

B303 (P114): 500 rupees (US$7.45)

Stone gray. Front: Denomination as registration device; Mahatma Gandhi; RBI seal with tiger and palm tree; lion capital of Ashoka pillar. Back: Swachh Bharat logo (Gandhi’s eyeglasses); language panel; Red Fort in Delhi. 3-mm wide green-to-blue windowed security thread with demetalized RBI and भारत (India). Watermark: Horizontal 500; vertical RBI; Mahatma Gandhi; vertical electrotype 500. Printer: (India Security Press). 150 x 63 mm. Paper.

a. 2016. Sig. 22. Letter: None, E, L, R.
Intro: 10.11.2016.

B305 (P116): 2,000 rupees (US$30)

Magenta. Front: Denomination as registration device; Mahatma Gandhi; RBI seal with tiger and palm tree; lion capital of Ashoka pillar. Back: Swachh Bharat logo (Gandhi’s eyeglasses); language panel; Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission space probe). 3-mm wide green-to-blue windowed security thread with demetalized RBI, 2000, and भारत (India). Watermark: Horizontal 2000; horizontal 2K; vertical RBI; Mahatma Gandhi; and vertical electrotype 2000. Printer: (India Security Press). 166 x 66 mm. Paper.

a. 2016. Sig. 22. Letter: None, R. Intro: 10.11.2016.