British Banknotes Issuing Banks Issuers Bank Of England Notes

Bank of England notes are the only banknotes that are legal tender in England and Wales. Scottish, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Manx banknotes are not legal tender in England and Wales. However, they are not illegal under English law and creditors and traders may accept them if they so choose.

2 Issuers

2.1 Bank of England notes

In 1921Events January 2 The first religious radio broadcast ( KDKA AM in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) January 2 Spanish liner Santa Isabel sinks off Villa Garcia 244 dead January 2 DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park San Francisco opens. January 20 Republic of Turke the Bank of England gained a legal monopolyAlternate use: Monopoly (game In economics, a monopoly (from the Greek monos one + polein to sell) is defined as a market situation where there is only one provider of a product or service. Monopolies are characterized by a lack of economic competition fo on the issue of 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.

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

2.2 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.

2.3 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.

2.4 Clydesdale Bank notes

5 pound note featuring Robert Burns on the obverse and a vignette of a field mouse from Burns' "Ode to a Mouse" on the reverse
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

2.5 Bank of Ireland notes

5 pound note
10 pound note
20 pound note
50 pound note

2.6 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

2.7 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's 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

2.8 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' coats-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.

2.9 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 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 symbols)
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

2.10 States of Guernsey notes

Main article: Guernsey Pound

3 The monarch on bank notes

In the U.K., 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 British monarch to have her face on U.K. banknotes. Prior to the issue of its Series C banknotes in 1960, Bank of England banknotes did not depict the monarch. Even today, notes issued by the other note issuing banks do not depict the monarch.

4 External links

5 See also

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