Currency Museum

The Central Bank Currency Museum was established on 20 April 1982 at the Central Bank Head Office in Colombo Fort. At present, the Museum is housed within the premises of the Centre for Banking Studies, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 58, Sri Jayawardhanapura Mawatha, Rajagiriya. The museum is open to the general public, school groups and foreign / local numismatists from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm. Monday to Friday on all working days except public and bank holidays, Admission to the Museum is free.

The Central Bank Currency Museum traces the history of the usage of coins and notes in Sri Lanka from 3rd century BC to date and has on display a large number of ancient coins and notes which were used in the country dating back from 3rd century BC. Foreign coins and notes received from other Central Banks are also on display at the museum.

Kahapana				Lakshmi Plaques

A Sinhalese gold coinage known as the 'kahavanu" had been in circulation in the island from about 7 to 8th century AD.

Kahavanu

Foreign Coins
The presence of foreign coins in the island would undoubtedly be due to international trade. These coins have been found mostly in Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Sigiriya ,Kurunegala, Matara, Akurugoda and Badulla. Most of the coins are Greek, Indo Greek, Roman, Indo Roman, Chinese, Arabic and Indian.

Coins used in the Portuguese period

	Rix Dollar
	Duits
	Zeelandia
	Holandia
	Utrecht
	West freaseland
	Guilderland
	Stuivers

	Farthing
	British Stuiver
	Rix Dollar ( Silver coin - 1825 )
	Fanams
	Rupee (Indian Rupee)
	Half Rupee
	Quarter Rupee

Post Independence Period and since establishment of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka was established on 28 August 1950 in terms of the Monetary Law Act No. 58 of 1949. The Monetary Law Act provided for establishment of a Monetary Board to administer, among other things, the issue of currency, which included both notes and coins.
Coins issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The notes issued by the British were used in Ceylon up to 1951 and the coins were used up to 1963. The first coin series were introduced in 1963. The Emblem of Ceylon was introduced in the obverse of this coin series. This series consisted of coins in the denominations of

One cent (aluminium)
Two cents (aluminium)
Five cents (aluminium)
Ten cents (aluminium)
Twenty-five cents (copper / nickel)
Fifty cents (copper / nickel)
One rupee (copper / nickel)

Ten series of currency notes have been issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka since 1950.

Rupees 5 (nickel / brass) and Rupees 2 (copper / nickel) coins were introduced in 1984 instead of the five rupee and two rupee notes.

In 2005, the Central Bank issued a new series of circulation coins of Rs.5 and Rs.2 by changing their weight and alloy, while Re. 1, Cts 50 and Cts.25 coins were issued by changing the size, alloy, weight and colour.  These new coins were circulated along with the existing coins in circulation.