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This is what the new plastic £10 note will look like

Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Paloma Kubiak
Posted:
Updated:
18/07/2017

The new plastic £10 note featuring Jane Austen has been unveiled today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the author’s death and will enter circulation in September.

The note was unveiled by Bank of England governor, Mark Carney at Winchester Cathedral, the site where Austen was buried in 1817.

The £5 polymer note caused a stir after it was released when it was revealed to contain animal fat (tallow), and the new £10 notes have the same substance. They are considered to be cleaner, stronger and safer than the old notes according to the Bank of England and can withstand more wear and tear.

The notes have enhanced security features making them much harder to counterfeit, including a see-through window featuring the Queen’s portrait, Winchester Cathedral shown in gold on the front and silver on the back, plus a hologram which contains the word ‘Ten’ which changes to ‘Pounds’ when the note is tilted.

The new £10 note also has a lower carbon footprint than its paper counterpart.

For the first time, the note will contain ‘tactile features’ – raised dots – in the top left hand corner to help blind and partially sighted people identify the value of the note.

However, it will be some time before shoppers can get their hands on them. The notes will enter circulation on 14 September and the old paper notes featuring Charles Darwin will be gradually removed until spring 2018. The exact date of withdrawal will be announced at least three months in advance to give everyone enough time to spend or exchange the old notes.

New£10note

Mark Carney said: “Our banknotes serve as repositories of the country’s collective memory, promoting awareness of the United Kingdom’s glorious history and highlighting the contributions of its greatest citizens.

“The new £10 note celebrates Jane Austen’s work.  Austen’s novels have a universal appeal and speak as powerfully today as they did when they were first published.  The new £10 will be printed on polymer, making it safer, stronger and cleaner.  The note will also include a new tactile feature on the £10 to help the visually impaired, ensuring the nation’s money is as inclusive as possible.”

The new Bank of Scotland £10 polymer note was unveiled in May and it features novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott. It will enter circulation on 10 October.

A new polymer £20 note, featuring the artist J.M.W Turner, will be launched in 2020. The Bank of England has yet to make plans to replace the £50 note featuring Boulton and Watt.