In a riveting piece of numismatic history, rare Indian banknotes over a century old—once lost in the ill-fated shipwreck of SS Shirala—have resurfaced and fetched hefty sums at a London auction. These notes, fresh from a cargo long forgotten, are now prized as relics, their journey from disaster to desirability capturing imaginations across the world.
The Story Behind the Notes
What Happened: The SS Shirala was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in 1918 during World War I. On board were shipments including freshly printed Indian rupee notes. Thought lost forever, parts of the cargo washed ashore years later.
What Survived: Among the flotsam and fragments were banknotes—some severely water-damaged, others remarkably preserved. These included 10-rupee notes bearing the date of May 25, 1918 and other denominations.
Auction, Rarity & Value
Where & When: The notes were sold in London at a high-profile auction. Collectors and history buffs alike were drawn by the rarity—and the incredible story.
Price: The surviving notes fetched lakhs of rupees (hundreds of thousands) each, underlining both their cultural value and the intrigue of their maritime saga.
Why This Matters: Most notes from that cargo were damaged or seized and destroyed; only a few survived in private hands. Their survival is a miracle given their exposure to saltwater, pressure, and time.
More than Collectibles
These banknotes are more than pricey memorabilia. They are tangible puzzles of history, testaments to colonial-era India, the dangers of early 20th-century warfare, and the resilience of material culture through adversity.
