Here's a genuinely notable piece for signature-collectors: a ₹1 Government of India note dated 1978, signed by Manmohan Singh in his capacity as Secretary, Ministry of Finance — decades before he would go on to serve as India's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. This dual significance (economic history + political history) makes Manmohan Singh-signed notes a distinct and increasingly popular sub-category within ₹1 note collecting, appealing to buyers well beyond typical numismatic circles.

The obverse carries the standard Government of India layout: the "GOVERNMENT OF INDIA" banner, the Ashoka Pillar (Lion Capital) emblem in a circular medallion inscribed "INDIA," the denomination in numeral and Hindi ("एक रुपया / ONE RUPEE"), and Manmohan Singh's signature beneath "SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF FINANCE." The reverse shows the 1 Rupee coin motif dated 1978, set within a wreath of wheat stalks — the classic design used consistently across ₹1 notes of this period.

The note carries the serial number 70A 986801, and shows honest signs of circulation and age consistent with a note approaching five decades old, including a small pencil annotation ("38") likely added by a previous collector or dealer for inventory tracking.

Why this note is significant:

• Manmohan Singh signature — signed years before his tenure as Governor of the RBI and eventually Prime Minister of India, giving this note crossover appeal to both currency collectors and those interested in Indian political history
• 1978-dated issue — pinpoints this note to a specific year within the long-running ₹1 Government of India series
• Government of India issue, legally distinct from RBI-issued denominations, signed personally by the Finance Ministry Secretary of the day
• A note whose value lies as much in its signatory's later prominence as in its numismatic rarity — a genuinely conversation-worthy piece

Who this note is for

A strong pick for collectors building a signature-series set of ₹1 notes, those interested in notes connected to prominent figures in Indian economic history, or anyone assembling a chronological Government of India ₹1 collection by year and signatory.