1. Burma ₹5 King George VI – C. D. Deshmukh – R25 614521 – “Burma Note / Payment Refused”

A highly interesting wartime Burma ₹5 banknote of King George VI, signed by C. D. Deshmukh, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, bearing serial number R25 614521. The note originally carried the Military Administration of Burma / Legal Tender in Burma Only overprint, but the first line of the MAB marking appears to have been rubbed or deliberately removed/altered. Of exceptional interest is the blue/purple bank stamp reading “BURMA NOTE / PAYMENT REFUSED,” indicating that the note was presented for payment in circumstances where its use in India was not permitted and was subsequently rejected by the bank. Specialist auction records document comparable 1945 Burma ₹5 notes bearing this exact “Burma Note / Payment Refused” marking, including an example where the Burma prefix was altered in an attempt to make the note usable in India; the bank detected the alteration and rejected the note. Such stamped examples are described by specialist catalogues as very scarce. The note shows considerable age toning, folds, staining and circulation wear, but retains the serial number, Governor's signature and principal design clearly. This is an especially desirable item for collectors of British India, Burma wartime currency, altered banknotes, bank rejection markings and Reserve Bank of India history.

2. 1945 Military Administration of Burma ₹5 – C. D. Deshmukh – P38 007405 Fancy Number-007

1945 Military Administration of Burma (MAB) ₹5 note, King George VI, issued by the Reserve Bank of India and signed by C. D. Deshmukh, serial number P38 007405. The note prominently bears the “MILITARY ADMINISTRATION OF BURMA” and “LEGAL TENDER IN BURMA ONLY” overprints, confirming its restricted circulation in Burma during the British military administration period. The P/38 prefix falls within the recognised Deshmukh MAB ₹5 prefix range, making this a genuine and collectible Burma issue. The note has noticeable folds, toning, staining and signs of circulation, consistent with its age, but the principal design, serial number and MAB overprint remain clearly visible.