1971 Central Bank of Ceylon Proof Set – Historic Last Coinage of Ceylon

A fascinating and historically important 1971 Central Bank of Ceylon Proof Set, featuring the final year that the name Ceylon appeared on the nation’s coins before the country became known as Sri Lanka in 1972. This attractive seven-coin proof set was produced by The Royal Mint and issued for the Central Bank of Ceylon as part of its collector coinage programme.

The set contains the complete 1971 decimal coin series:

• 1 Rupee – Cupro-nickel
• 50 Cents – Cupro-nickel
• 25 Cents – Cupro-nickel
• 10 Cents – Nickel-brass, scalloped edge
• 5 Cents – Nickel-brass
• 2 Cents – Aluminium
• 1 Cent – Aluminium

Each coin features the Armorial Ensign of Ceylon on the obverse, showing the traditional lion emblem, while the reverse displays the denomination surrounded by decorative designs, with inscriptions in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The varied shapes and metals used across the set make it an interesting example of 1960s–70s Commonwealth coin design.

Struck to proof quality, the coins feature highly polished fields and crisp details, making them ideal for collectors of world proof sets, Commonwealth coinage, Royal Mint issues, or Sri Lankan history. This set represents a unique moment in time — the final Ceylon coinage before the country’s transition to the name Sri Lanka — and is a wonderful addition to any international collection.