Issue: 10 Rupees.
Background: On or about 12 February 2002 the central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank, called for global tenders for the printing of a 10 Rs polymer note. Tenders closed 35 days after the announcement.

A concept design was available for inspection at the offices of the Bank in Kathmandu and tender documents were also available for collection there on payment of a fee of NRS 10,000; about USD 125.00.

Assessment of tenders was a relatively quick process as on 24 May 2002, the Australian Minister for Trade announced that Note Printing Australia (NPA) had won the tender to print 50,000,000 notes for Nepal. Nepal Rastra Bank issued a similar statement at the same time although the Nepal press release indicated that the issue would be 500,000,000 notes. NPA subsequently confirmed the lower figure to be correct. The value of the contract was stated to be in excess of AUD 3,000,000.

Mark Vaile, the Minister for Trade, added that “NPA won the contract on the basis of the company’s world leading technology and competitive pricing”. Undoubtedly NPA should have the inside running on gaining these contracts however there will be times when other printers will win out.

From the call for tenders to the issue of the note was a relatively short time span as on 30 September 2002, the 10Rs was released. Except for the portrait and the commemorative text (see below), its design is very similar to the paper note it replaces. Coincidently half way across the world, Mexico issued its first polymer note on the same day. On a time zone basis, Nepal can claim an earlier release.

Issue of this note was well timed. It occurred during Nepal’s Dasain and Tihar Festivals. Dasain is the greatest of the Hindu festivals. It lasts for 14 days and is lavishly celebrated. Goddess Durga, the symbol of valour and power is worshipped and is offered animal sacrifices to enhance the devotees success and prosperity. On the 10th day, men and women visit their elders to receive tika (a dab of vermilion mixed with yogurt and rice). After granting tika, the elders also give money and sweets. Uncirculated notes are preferred and hence most new note issues occur in the lead up to this festival. Queues in banks are reported to be very long at this time as people seek new notes. Tihar follows immediately after Dasain and lasts for a further 5 days - it is held in honour of Laxmi, the Goddess of prosperity and good fortune.

This note is a commemorative celebrating the accession of King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev to the throne in BS 2058 (AD 2001) and there is a horseshoe shaped commemorative text to that effect around the see through window. The circumstances surrounding the accession are dramatic and tragic and they deserve some further comment.

Gyanendra is the second son of King Mahendra Vira Vikrama Shah Dev who ruled Nepal 1955 to 1972. Gyanendra’s elder brother, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev ascended the throne on Mahendra’s death. Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom and the King is held to be a personification of the Hindu deity Vishnu, the Preserver of Life, and the doyen of all Hindu gods. (Vishnu is also known as Narayan.)

Thus the King, and by extension, the Royal Family occupies a very special place in the lives of the Nepalese people far beyond the normal role of a constitutional monarch.

At approximately 2230 NST on Friday,1 June 2001 (19 Jestha 2058 in the Nepalese calendar), the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Deependra, reportedly in a drug and alcohol induced rage, burst in on a family dinner and machine gunned to death his father and mother (King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya) and seven other members of the immediate family including his younger brother, sisters, aunts and cousins. Prince Deependra then shot himself.

It is understood that Queen Aiswarya disapproved of Deependra’a choice of a bride, supporting marriage to another, and the dinner was in effect a family meeting to discuss the issue. This meeting apparently capped many months of argument and discussion within the family.

Confusion reigned and the populace of Nepal were stunned, many refusing to believe that such a tragedy could occur in this devout Hindu nation in which royalty is so highly revered. Clinging to life, Deependra was declared the new king by the State Council (Raj Parishad) in an emergency meeting and the next in line, Gyanendra was appointed regent (rajya sahay) given Deependra's inability to act. However the circumstances were quickly established, by which time Deependra died and on June 4 Gyanendra became king.

A portrait of King Gyanendra wearing the plumed crown is to the left on the front of this note. Of course this portrait replaces that of King Birendra which was on the paper note. To the left is the commemorative legend in the Devnagari script of the Nepalese language which translates as: “This note is issued on the occasion of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev’s accession to the throne in BS 2058”. The legend is horseshoe shaped around the see through window.

At the centre of the note is an image of Garud Narayan of Changu Narayan Temple, near Kathmandu. In essence it is Vishnu astride the imaginary Garuda bird (which features throughout southern Asia). Vishnu is also the protector of the universe and is believed to have visited the earth ten times to protect it from destruction. Thus, Vishnu is highly revered. He is shown holding a club and a wheel.

Above the see through window is an image of the obverse of a Nepalese silver coin as redesigned in 1932. At the centre is an upright khadak or two edged sword surrounded by leaves of flowers. There are various inscriptions on the coin, including Nepal in Nepalese. No value is stated which would of course be the case on the actual coin.

An antelope family features on the back of the note against a back drop of trees. At top centre is the logo of Nepal Rastra Bank and the Nepalese coat of arms is to the right. In English, the deer is known as Black Buck (Antelope Cervicapra); the Nepalese refer to it as Krishansashar or Krishna Sagar. A full grown male antelope has long wavy horns and like most of their species have the ability to leap high to escape their enemies. They have been hunted almost to extinction but their numbers are now being re-built through protection in national parks.

Those discrete to this note include:
(a) A plumed crown appears in the see-through window. The plumed crown has featured as the watermark on all Nepal banknote issues since 1951.
(b) To the top left of the see-through window an image of King Gyanendra appears as an under-print when the note is tilted to the light.
(c) Representation of an intermittent security thread bearing the initials “NRB” for Nepal Rastra Bank. There is a large gap in the “thread” as it makes way for the image of the King.
(d) Two 6 digit serial numbers at bottom left (brown) and at bottom right (red) in Nepalese numerals with an alpha numeric prefix also in Nepalese characters.
(e) Multi coloured fine line drawings in various geometric patterns on both sides of the note.
(f) Micro-printing of “NEPALRASTRABANK” in one line (repeated many times) on the front of the note towards the bottom.
(g) When exposed to ultra-violet light, several features fluoresce. Viz. The serial number at left and the Governor’s signature fluoresce in yellow (both normally brown); the serial number at right fluoresces in red, its normal colour and the central design of Garud Narayan assumes a dark blue or purple colour instead of light grey.

Except for the micro printing, the initials on the security thread and the denomination in numbers and words (back), all text is in the Devnagari script of the Nepalese language.

At the very top centre of the front of the note is the small letter "Shri" which symbolises good luck and can be found on most Nepalese notes.

Immediately below is Nepal Rastra Bank in large characters which is the followed by five lines of print in smaller characters which collectively read “This legal tender note has the full guarantee of His Majesty’s government if value is required the issuer, Nepal Rastra Bank will immediately provide Rupees Ten.”

At the bottom of the note is the signature of Dr Tilak Bahadur Rawal in large print followed by his title, “Governor” in smaller print.

As mentioned under the Description, the horseshoe shaped legend around the see through window translates as "This note is issued on the occasion of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev's accession to the throne in BS 2058.

On the back of the note - “Rupees Ten”.

I am indebted to Sandip Shrestha of Savannah, Georgia USA who has provided much assistance to me in the development of the Nepal module of this website including the translations. He has very kindly reviewed my work. Any errors are my responsibility.