1 Rupee, Ceylon, 1952

1 Rupee banknote of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) issued in 1952. The note has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (young profile) - this was one of the first official portraits of Elizabeth after she became the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, along with the commonwealth. The reverse of the note features steps leading up to a Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura - the capital of ancient Sinhala Kingdom and a key site of Buddhist heritage in Sri Lanka. The note has inscriptions in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

The note carries the signature of JR Jayawardene, who was the Finance Minister from 1947-53, and was one of the most significant political figures in the country's modern history. The other signature is of John Exter, an American economist who served as the first governor of the Central Bank of Ceylon (1950-53). Older banknotes were issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Ceylon. 

Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, becoming a Dominion within the British commonwealth. Thus, Sri Lanka continued to use the portrait of the British monarch even after independence, unlike India. 

This is a rare note. Read more about it here