British banknotes

This article concerns British Banknotes, the banknotes of the United Kingdom, denominated in Pounds (GBP).

Issuing Banks

Pound Sterling banknotes are issued by

• the Bank of England (legal tender in England and Wales, but generally accepted throughout the UK);
• the Bank of Scotland (recognised currency in Scotland, and generally accepted throughout the UK);
• the Royal Bank of Scotland (recognised currency in Scotland, and generally accepted throughout the UK);
• the Clydesdale Bank (recognised currency in Scotland, and generally accepted throughout the UK);
• the Bank of Ireland, First Trust Bank, Northern Bank and Ulster Bank (accepted in Scotland, although rarely seen outside Northern Ireland).

Sterling banknotes are also issued by

• The Isle of Man
• States of Jersey
• States of Guernsey

Notes issued by the governments of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are not generally accepted off their own islands (although Jersey and Guernsey notes and coins circulate freely in both bailiwicks). Scottish notes can also be found freely circulating in Jersey and Guernsey.

See article Legal tender for an explanation of the status of banknotes in different jurisdictions of the British Isles.

Bank of England Notes

In 1921 the Bank of England gained a legal monopoly on the issue of Sterling banknotes in England and Wales, a process that started in 1844 when the ability of other banks to issues notes was restricted.

The bank issued its first banknotes in 1694, although until 1745 they were written for irregular amounts, rather than pre-defined multiples of a pound. They did not become entirely machine printed and payable to the bearer until 1855. The first coloured banknotes were issued in 1928, and were also the first notes to be printed on both sides. For additional details, see Bank of England.

As of November 2003 the Bank of England banknotes in circulation, known as Series E, are:

• 5 pound note with Elizabeth Fry, showing a meeting of people possibly discussing prisoners' rights.
• 10 pound note with Charles Darwin, a hummingbird and the HMS Beagle
• 20 pound note with Sir Edward Elgar
• 50 pound note with John Houblon

As of 2004, they are signed by the Chief Cashier, Andrew Bailey.

As with coin the head side is obverse, the tails side (but of course also contains several heads) is the reverse.

All the notes issued since Series C in 1960 also depict Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in full view facing left and as a watermark, hidden, facing right.

The Bank of England Series D 1 pound note was discontinued in 1984, being replaced by a pound coin - see British coinage.

Bank of Scotland Notes

in circulation:

• 5 pound note featuring a vignette of oil and energy.
• 10 pound note featuring a vignette of distilling and brewing.
• 20 pound note featuring a vignette of education and research.
• 50 pound note featuring a vignette of arts and culture.
• 100 pound note featuring a vignette of leisure and tourism.

All the notes also depict Sir Walter Scott who was instrumental in retaining the right of Scottish banks to issue their own notes in the 1840s.

Royal Bank of Scotland Notes

in circulation are:

• 1 pound note featuring Edinburgh Castle
• 5 pound note featuring Culzean Castle.
• 10 pound note featuring Glamis Castle.
• 20 pound note featuring Brodick Castle.
• 100 pound note featuring Balmoral Castle.

All the notes also depict Lord Ilay (1682-1761), first governor of the bank.

Clydesdale Bank Notes

• 5 pound note featuring Robert Burns on the front and a vignette of a fieldmouse from Burns' "Ode to a Mouse" on the back.
• 10 pound note featuring Mary Slessor on the front and a vignette of a map of Calabar and African missionary scenes on the back.
• 20 pound note featuring Robert the Bruce on the front and a vignette of the Bruce on horseback with the Monymusk Reliquary against a background of Stirling Castle on the back.
• 50 pound note featuring Adam Smith on the front and a vignette of industry tools against a background of sailing ships on the back.
• 100 pound note featuring Lord Kelvin on the front and a vignette of Glasgow University on the back.

Bank of Ireland Notes

• 5 pound note.
• 10 pound note.
• 20 pound note.
• 50 pound note.

First Trust Bank Notes

First Trust Bank's current notes depict generic people of Northern Ireland on the front, alternately male and female, but with a pair of older people on the £100. The obverse generally features designs associated with the Spanish Armada, or coastal features.

• 5 pound note featuring Dunluce Castle on the obverse.
• 10 pound note featuring the Girona (galeass) on the obverse.
• 20 pound note featuring the chimney at Lagada Point on the obverse.
• 50 pound note featuring a commemorative medal on the obverse.
• 100 pound note featuring the Armada on the obverse.

Northern Bank Notes

• 5 pound polymer note featuring the U.S. space shuttle.
• 10 pound note featuring J.B. Dunlop on the front and the portico of Belfast City Hall on the back.
• 20 pound note featuring Harry Ferguson on the front and the portico of Belfast City Hall on the back.
• 50 pound note featuring Sir S.C. Davidson on the front and the portico of Belfast City Hall on the back.
• 100 pound note featuring Sir James Martin on the front and the portico of Belfast City Hall on the back.

Ulster Bank Notes

Ulster Bank's current notes all share a rather plain design of a view of Belfast harbour, flanked by landscape views; the design of the reverse is dominated by the banks' coat of arms. The principle difference between the denominations is their colour and size.

• 5 pound note, purple.
• 10 pound note, blue-green.
• 20 pound note, purple.
• 50 pound note, blue.

States of Jersey Notes

The Treasurer of the States of Jersey, Channel Islands, holds £1.10 in Bank of England notes for each £1 issued, making the Jersey Pound a very strong currency. The current notes depict Queen Elizabeth II on the front and various landmarks of Jersey or incidents in Jersey history on the reverse. The watermark is a Jersey cow

• 1 pound note, green, St Helier Parish Church (In 2004, a special edition 1 pound note is in general circulation alongside the St. Helier Parish Church note. This commemorative note marks the 800th anniversary of the division of the Duchy of Normandy in 1204 and the design consequently includes Mont Orgueil Castle and other historic symbolism).
• 5 pound note, purple, La Corbière lighthouse.
• 10 pound note, red, The Death of Major Pierson, Battle of Jersey, 1781.
• 20 pound note, blue, St Ouen's Manor.
• 50 pound note, brown, Government House.

The Monarch on Bank Notes

In the UK, particularly in England, in recent years there have been comments relating to the option of adopting the Euro along the lines of: we don't want to lose the Queen on our banknotes. This overlooks the fact that Queen Elizabeth II was the first UK monarch to have her face on UK banknotes. Prior to the issue of its Series C banknotes in 1960, Bank of England banknotes did not depict the UK monarch. Even today, notes issued by the other note issuing banks do not depict the monarch.