Knowledge (XXG)

Bank of England £50 note

Source 📝

139: 107: 612: 626: 293: 598: 233: 229:
promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of fifty pounds" replacing the name of the payee. This declaration remains on Bank of England banknotes to this day. A printed signature of one of three cashiers appeared on the printed notes, although this was replaced by the signature of the Chief Cashier from 1870 onwards.
252:
on the back. As a security feature, this note had a metallic thread running through it, which was upgraded to a "windowed" thread from July 1988 onward. The thread is woven into the paper such that it forms a dashed line, yet appears as a single line when held up to the light. The series D note was
215:
for the first time in 1725. The earliest notes were handwritten and were issued as needed to individuals. These notes were written on one side only and bore the name of the payee, the date, and the signature of the issuing cashier. With the exception of the Restriction Period between 1797 and 1821,
68:
See-through windows the larger one with the King's/Queen's portrait a maroon border on both the front and back, with gold and green foil squares on the front and silver foil squares on the back, the image squares on the front changes between a '50' and a '£' symbol when the note is tilted, second
228:
shortage, these notes could be exchanged in full, or in part, for an equivalent amount of gold when presented at the bank. If redeemed in part, the banknote would be signed to indicate the amount that had been redeemed. From 1853 printed notes replaced handwritten notes, with the declaration "I
280:
light. It is the first Bank of England banknote to feature two people on the reverse, and the first Bank of England note to feature the motion thread security feature. This is an image in a broken green thread that moves as the note is viewed from different angles.
69:
smaller window at the bottom right corner, raised dots, finely detailed shaped red metallic shape containing the letters 'A' and 'T', turquoise, lilac and pink foil patch with a 3D image of the Coronation Crown, micro-lettering, textured print, UV feature, hologram
202:
on the reverse, with his birth date reflecting the release date. Cotton £50 notes from the previous series remained in circulation alongside the new polymer notes until 30 September 2022, when the last 'paper' banknote issue finally ceased to be legal tender.
276:. The note has a number of security features in addition to the metallic thread, including motion thread, raised print, a watermark, microlettering, a see-through registration device, and a colourful pattern that only appears under 284:
The new Series G £50 note was brought into circulation in June 2021; it is the last of the Bank of England's notes to switch from paper to polymer. The reverse of the note features a portrait of mathematician and codebreaker
300:
Suggestions were sought by the Bank for eligible scientists prior to Turing's selection. Some 227,299 nominations covering 989 scientists were received, and the shortlist eventually consisted of (in individuals and pairs)
244:. The £50 note ceased to be produced by the Bank of England in 1943 and did not reappear until it was reintroduced in 1981. These D series notes were predominantly olive green on both sides, with an image of 191:. The current note, the second of this denomination to be printed in polymer, entered circulation on 5 June 2024. It bears the images of King Charles III and late Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and 1162: 257:, the first governor of the Bank of England, on the reverse. As an additional security feature, these notes had a foil patch on the front. The E revision series did not have a £50 note. 1155: 1796: 882: 852: 1148: 1080: 1781: 1385: 1380: 1375: 1370: 1365: 1360: 388: 1287: 365:
As of 2019, the £50 note was not widely used in the UK. Its lack of common handling has led to some retailers refusing it for payment.
1791: 1277: 1236: 1171: 1507: 1786: 1755: 1617: 1459: 1342: 993: 1702: 1497: 1425: 1337: 1332: 1327: 380: 1750: 1282: 1197: 1179: 1034: 639: 1492: 1487: 1482: 1441: 1420: 1415: 1322: 1215: 1210: 138: 106: 1477: 1410: 1241: 1205: 1261: 217: 1660: 1655: 1650: 1645: 1256: 1251: 1246: 1640: 1635: 1603: 1547: 1598: 1593: 1588: 1531: 1526: 1557: 890: 678: 1716: 1583: 1552: 1352: 860: 476:
First £50 note to carry a portrait of a monarch and used a "windowed" security thread (July 1988 onwards)
824: 1305: 631: 253:
gradually replaced by the series E, beginning in 1994. This reddish note replaced Christopher Wren with
658:
The Bank of England issues plain notes in the values of £1 million and £100 million for internal use.
368: 196: 771: 1085: 342: 338: 738: 1726: 1674: 617: 372: 192: 799: 346: 318: 310: 375:, has raised concern with the Bank of England over high denomination notes and their role in 1314: 471: 350: 314: 273: 269: 249: 187:. It is the highest denomination of banknote currently issued for public circulation by the 159: 117: 26: 1721: 1469: 1395: 1188: 997: 886: 856: 803: 775: 743: 682: 523: 334: 330: 322: 265: 221: 212: 188: 1742: 1682: 829: 240:
The ability to redeem banknotes for gold ceased in 1931 when Britain stopped using the
184: 180: 42: 1081:"Scrap £50 notes to stop plumbers and builders avoiding tax, urges government adviser" 1775: 1760: 241: 232: 1687: 603: 500: 379:. He claimed that scrapping the £50, and other high denomination notes such as the 326: 254: 245: 292: 1575: 575: 551: 376: 354: 302: 286: 277: 260:
The 2011 £50 note features two portraits on the reverse: engineer and scientist
199: 149: 1107: 1051: 1018: 940: 1692: 593: 527: 306: 261: 912: 711: 1135: 384: 1035:
One pound coin: What is legal tender - and why can shops refuse your cash?
248:
on the front (as with all subsequent £50 notes) and an image of architect
1627: 1056: 967: 945: 917: 716: 225: 1140: 371:, an advisor to the British Government and former Chief Executive of 296:
The image of Alan Turing was selected by the Bank of England in 2019.
291: 231: 1144: 941:"Paper banknotes disappearing fast as £20 turns plastic" 712:"New face of the Bank of England's £50 note is revealed" 1108:"King Charles banknotes to enter circulation in June" 1735: 1701: 1673: 1626: 1616: 1574: 1540: 1519: 1506: 1468: 1458: 1434: 1403: 1394: 1351: 1313: 1304: 1270: 1229: 1196: 1187: 1178: 1052:"Ban £50 notes to tackle crime, ex-bank chief says" 1019:
When most people never see a £50 note, why have it?
165: 155: 145: 131: 123: 113: 99: 81: 73: 64: 56: 48: 37: 32: 586:Information taken from Bank of England website. 794: 792: 1156: 766: 764: 762: 8: 994:"Alan Turing to be the face of new £50 note" 825:"Steam engine heroes grace new £50 banknote" 24: 1623: 1516: 1512: 1465: 1400: 1310: 1193: 1184: 1163: 1149: 1141: 1041:. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2024. 968:"The £50 note is changing and here's why" 706: 704: 702: 700: 398: 1025:. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2024. 670: 651: 1079:Wilkinson, Michael (8 February 2016). 23: 800:"Withdrawn banknotes reference guide" 440:Monochrome (printed on one side only) 7: 939:Peachey, Kevin (2 September 2015). 883:"£50 Note – Security Features" 556:Final Series G Polymer issued note 505:Foil patch for additional security 264:and industrialist and entrepreneur 1797:Cultural depictions of Alan Turing 14: 913:"New £50 banknote in circulation" 853:"£50 Note – Design Features" 550:Front: Queen Elizabeth II; Back: 522:Front: Queen Elizabeth II; Back: 499:Front: Queen Elizabeth II; Back: 470:Front: Queen Elizabeth II; Back: 211:£50 notes were introduced by the 624: 610: 596: 391:, would reduce financial crime. 137: 105: 574:Front: King Charles III; Back: 1782:1725 establishments in England 772:"A brief history of banknotes" 739:"Introducing the new £50 note" 1: 1756:Economy of the United Kingdom 580:First King Charles III notes 95:2023–present (current design) 1703:British Overseas Territories 443:211 × 133 mm (may vary) 679:"The new £50 note unveiled" 640:Bank of England note issues 183:banknote circulated in the 1815: 411:Ceased to be legal tender 236:A £50 note, issued in 1934 1792:Fifty-base-unit banknotes 1708:(at parity with sterling) 1515: 1508:Danske Bank/Northern Bank 495: 492: 464:Predominantly olive green 389:100 United States dollars 218:French Revolutionary Wars 136: 104: 197:World War II codebreaker 177:Bank of England £50 note 1136:Bank of England website 423:Additional information 1717:Falkland Islands pound 1353:Royal Bank of Scotland 297: 237: 632:United Kingdom portal 295: 235: 1787:Banknotes of England 1086:The Daily Telegraph 863:on 17 November 2023 833:. 30 September 2011 343:Srinivasa Ramanujan 339:James Clerk Maxwell 29: 1727:Saint Helena pound 1675:Crown Dependencies 1620:(no longer issued) 1462:(currently issued) 1172:Sterling banknotes 1114:. 21 February 2024 893:on 6 December 2022 618:Numismatics portal 373:Standard Chartered 298: 246:Queen Elizabeth II 238: 193:computer scientist 1769: 1768: 1710: 1669: 1668: 1612: 1611: 1570: 1569: 1566: 1565: 1454: 1453: 1450: 1449: 1300: 1299: 1296: 1295: 1180:England and Wales 1060:. 8 February 2016 974:. 13 October 2018 681:(Press release). 584: 583: 519:30 September 2022 493:Predominantly red 461:20 September 1996 381:1000 Swiss francs 347:Ernest Rutherford 319:Caroline Herschel 311:Rosalind Franklin 268:, along with the 173: 172: 160:Elliott & Fry 82:Years of printing 65:Security features 1804: 1746: 1706: 1624: 1618:Northern Ireland 1517: 1513: 1466: 1460:Northern Ireland 1401: 1315:Bank of Scotland 1311: 1194: 1185: 1165: 1158: 1151: 1142: 1124: 1123: 1121: 1119: 1104: 1098: 1097: 1095: 1093: 1076: 1070: 1069: 1067: 1065: 1048: 1042: 1032: 1026: 1016: 1010: 1009: 1007: 1005: 990: 984: 983: 981: 979: 964: 958: 957: 955: 953: 936: 930: 929: 927: 925: 909: 903: 902: 900: 898: 889:. Archived from 879: 873: 872: 870: 868: 859:. Archived from 849: 843: 842: 840: 838: 821: 815: 814: 812: 810: 796: 787: 786: 784: 782: 768: 757: 756: 754: 752: 735: 729: 728: 726: 724: 708: 695: 694: 692: 690: 675: 659: 656: 634: 629: 628: 627: 620: 615: 614: 613: 606: 601: 600: 599: 571:146 × 77 mm 547:146 × 77 mm 496:156 × 85 mm 472:Christopher Wren 467:169 × 95 mm 399: 351:Frederick Sanger 315:William Herschel 274:Soho Manufactory 270:Whitbread Engine 250:Christopher Wren 141: 118:King Charles III 109: 33:(United Kingdom) 30: 1814: 1813: 1807: 1806: 1805: 1803: 1802: 1801: 1772: 1771: 1770: 1765: 1744: 1731: 1722:Gibraltar pound 1705: 1697: 1665: 1608: 1562: 1536: 1502: 1470:Bank of Ireland 1446: 1430: 1396:Clydesdale Bank 1390: 1347: 1292: 1271:Non-circulating 1266: 1225: 1189:Bank of England 1174: 1169: 1132: 1127: 1117: 1115: 1106: 1105: 1101: 1091: 1089: 1078: 1077: 1073: 1063: 1061: 1050: 1049: 1045: 1033: 1029: 1017: 1013: 1003: 1001: 998:Bank of England 992: 991: 987: 977: 975: 966: 965: 961: 951: 949: 938: 937: 933: 923: 921: 911: 910: 906: 896: 894: 887:Bank of England 881: 880: 876: 866: 864: 857:Bank of England 851: 850: 846: 836: 834: 823: 822: 818: 808: 806: 804:Bank of England 798: 797: 790: 780: 778: 776:Bank of England 770: 769: 760: 750: 748: 747:. 25 March 2021 744:Bank of England 737: 736: 732: 722: 720: 710: 709: 698: 688: 686: 685:. 25 March 2021 683:Bank of England 677: 676: 672: 668: 663: 662: 657: 653: 648: 630: 625: 623: 616: 611: 609: 602: 597: 595: 592: 524:Matthew Boulton 513:2 November 2011 397: 363: 335:Stephen Hawking 331:Charles Babbage 323:Dorothy Hodgkin 266:Matthew Boulton 222:Napoleonic Wars 213:Bank of England 209: 189:Bank of England 94: 92: 90: 88: 86: 22: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1812: 1811: 1808: 1800: 1799: 1794: 1789: 1784: 1774: 1773: 1767: 1766: 1764: 1763: 1758: 1753: 1751:Sterling coins 1748: 1739: 1737: 1733: 1732: 1730: 1729: 1724: 1719: 1713: 1711: 1699: 1698: 1696: 1695: 1690: 1685: 1683:Guernsey pound 1679: 1677: 1671: 1670: 1667: 1666: 1664: 1663: 1658: 1653: 1648: 1643: 1638: 1632: 1630: 1621: 1614: 1613: 1610: 1609: 1607: 1606: 1601: 1596: 1591: 1586: 1580: 1578: 1572: 1571: 1568: 1567: 1564: 1563: 1561: 1560: 1555: 1550: 1544: 1542: 1538: 1537: 1535: 1534: 1529: 1523: 1521: 1510: 1504: 1503: 1501: 1500: 1495: 1490: 1485: 1480: 1474: 1472: 1463: 1456: 1455: 1452: 1451: 1448: 1447: 1445: 1444: 1438: 1436: 1432: 1431: 1429: 1428: 1423: 1418: 1413: 1407: 1405: 1398: 1392: 1391: 1389: 1388: 1383: 1378: 1373: 1368: 1363: 1357: 1355: 1349: 1348: 1346: 1345: 1340: 1335: 1330: 1325: 1319: 1317: 1308: 1302: 1301: 1298: 1297: 1294: 1293: 1291: 1290: 1285: 1280: 1274: 1272: 1268: 1267: 1265: 1264: 1259: 1254: 1249: 1244: 1239: 1233: 1231: 1227: 1226: 1224: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1208: 1202: 1200: 1191: 1182: 1176: 1175: 1170: 1168: 1167: 1160: 1153: 1145: 1139: 1138: 1131: 1130:External links 1128: 1126: 1125: 1099: 1071: 1043: 1039:Yahoo! Finance 1027: 1011: 1000:. 15 July 2019 985: 959: 931: 904: 874: 844: 830:Channel 4 News 816: 788: 758: 730: 696: 669: 667: 664: 661: 660: 650: 649: 647: 644: 643: 642: 636: 635: 621: 607: 591: 588: 582: 581: 578: 572: 569: 567: 565: 562: 558: 557: 554: 548: 545: 543: 540: 537: 533: 532: 530: 520: 517: 514: 511: 507: 506: 503: 497: 494: 491: 488: 485: 482: 478: 477: 474: 468: 465: 462: 459: 456: 453: 449: 448: 446: 444: 441: 438: 435: 432: 429: 425: 424: 421: 418: 415: 412: 409: 406: 403: 396: 393: 362: 361:Use and future 359: 208: 205: 185:United Kingdom 171: 170: 167: 163: 162: 157: 153: 152: 147: 143: 142: 134: 133: 129: 128: 125: 121: 120: 115: 111: 110: 102: 101: 97: 96: 83: 79: 78: 75: 71: 70: 66: 62: 61: 58: 54: 53: 50: 46: 45: 39: 35: 34: 20: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1810: 1809: 1798: 1795: 1793: 1790: 1788: 1785: 1783: 1780: 1779: 1777: 1762: 1761:Sterling area 1759: 1757: 1754: 1752: 1749: 1747: 1741: 1740: 1738: 1734: 1728: 1725: 1723: 1720: 1718: 1715: 1714: 1712: 1709: 1704: 1700: 1694: 1691: 1689: 1686: 1684: 1681: 1680: 1678: 1676: 1672: 1662: 1659: 1657: 1654: 1652: 1649: 1647: 1644: 1642: 1639: 1637: 1634: 1633: 1631: 1629: 1625: 1622: 1619: 1615: 1605: 1602: 1600: 1597: 1595: 1592: 1590: 1587: 1585: 1582: 1581: 1579: 1577: 1573: 1559: 1556: 1554: 1551: 1549: 1546: 1545: 1543: 1539: 1533: 1530: 1528: 1525: 1524: 1522: 1520:Current issue 1518: 1514: 1511: 1509: 1505: 1499: 1496: 1494: 1491: 1489: 1486: 1484: 1481: 1479: 1476: 1475: 1473: 1471: 1467: 1464: 1461: 1457: 1443: 1440: 1439: 1437: 1433: 1427: 1424: 1422: 1419: 1417: 1414: 1412: 1409: 1408: 1406: 1404:Current issue 1402: 1399: 1397: 1393: 1387: 1384: 1382: 1379: 1377: 1374: 1372: 1369: 1367: 1364: 1362: 1359: 1358: 1356: 1354: 1350: 1344: 1341: 1339: 1336: 1334: 1331: 1329: 1326: 1324: 1321: 1320: 1318: 1316: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1303: 1289: 1286: 1284: 1281: 1279: 1276: 1275: 1273: 1269: 1263: 1260: 1258: 1255: 1253: 1250: 1248: 1245: 1243: 1240: 1238: 1235: 1234: 1232: 1228: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 1203: 1201: 1199: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1186: 1183: 1181: 1177: 1173: 1166: 1161: 1159: 1154: 1152: 1147: 1146: 1143: 1137: 1134: 1133: 1129: 1113: 1109: 1103: 1100: 1088: 1087: 1082: 1075: 1072: 1059: 1058: 1053: 1047: 1044: 1040: 1036: 1031: 1028: 1024: 1020: 1015: 1012: 999: 995: 989: 986: 973: 969: 963: 960: 948: 947: 942: 935: 932: 920: 919: 914: 908: 905: 892: 888: 884: 878: 875: 862: 858: 854: 848: 845: 832: 831: 826: 820: 817: 805: 801: 795: 793: 789: 777: 773: 767: 765: 763: 759: 746: 745: 740: 734: 731: 719: 718: 713: 707: 705: 703: 701: 697: 684: 680: 674: 671: 665: 655: 652: 645: 641: 638: 637: 633: 622: 619: 608: 605: 594: 589: 587: 579: 577: 573: 570: 568: 566: 563: 561:Series G (II) 560: 559: 555: 553: 549: 546: 544: 541: 538: 535: 534: 531: 529: 525: 521: 518: 515: 512: 509: 508: 504: 502: 498: 490:30 April 2014 489: 486: 484:20 April 1994 483: 480: 479: 475: 473: 469: 466: 463: 460: 457: 455:20 March 1981 454: 451: 450: 447: 445: 442: 439: 437:16 April 1945 436: 433: 430: 427: 426: 422: 419: 416: 413: 410: 407: 405:First issued 404: 401: 400: 394: 392: 390: 386: 382: 378: 374: 370: 366: 360: 358: 356: 352: 348: 344: 340: 336: 332: 328: 324: 320: 316: 312: 308: 304: 294: 290: 288: 282: 279: 275: 271: 267: 263: 258: 256: 251: 247: 243: 242:gold standard 234: 230: 227: 223: 219: 214: 206: 204: 201: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 178: 168: 164: 161: 158: 154: 151: 148: 144: 140: 135: 130: 126: 122: 119: 116: 112: 108: 103: 98: 84: 80: 76: 74:Material used 72: 67: 63: 59: 55: 51: 47: 44: 40: 36: 31: 28: 19: 1707: 1688:Jersey pound 1541:Discontinued 1435:Discontinued 1288:£100,000,000 1230:Discontinued 1220: 1116:. Retrieved 1111: 1102: 1090:. Retrieved 1084: 1074: 1062:. Retrieved 1055: 1046: 1038: 1030: 1022: 1014: 1002:. Retrieved 988: 976:. Retrieved 971: 962: 950:. Retrieved 944: 934: 922:. Retrieved 916: 907: 895:. Retrieved 891:the original 877: 865:. Retrieved 861:the original 847: 835:. Retrieved 828: 819: 807:. Retrieved 779:. Retrieved 749:. Retrieved 742: 733: 721:. Retrieved 715: 687:. Retrieved 673: 654: 604:Money portal 585: 539:23 June 2021 536:Series G (I) 501:John Houblon 408:Last issued 367: 364: 327:Ada Lovelace 299: 283: 259: 255:John Houblon 239: 210: 176: 174: 18: 1576:Ulster Bank 1283:£10,000,000 1118:21 February 809:29 December 576:Alan Turing 564:5 June 2024 552:Alan Turing 377:tax evasion 369:Peter Sands 355:Alan Turing 303:Mary Anning 287:Alan Turing 278:ultraviolet 200:Alan Turing 169:5 June 2024 166:Design date 150:Alan Turing 127:5 June 2024 124:Design date 52:146 mm 1776:Categories 1745:(currency) 1693:Manx pound 1278:£1,000,000 1004:15 January 978:15 October 666:References 528:James Watt 307:Paul Dirac 262:James Watt 91:2011–2021; 89:1994–2011; 87:1981–1994; 85:1725–1943; 60:77 mm 1743:Sterling 1092:6 January 1064:6 January 952:6 January 224:caused a 216:when the 93:2021–2022 41:£50  1736:See also 1306:Scotland 1112:BBC News 1057:BBC News 1023:BBC News 972:BBC News 946:BBC News 924:28 April 918:BBC News 897:28 April 867:28 April 837:13 March 781:28 April 751:25 March 717:BBC News 689:25 March 590:See also 510:Series F 481:Series E 452:Series D 272:and the 220:and the 181:sterling 156:Designer 43:sterling 21:Banknote 16:Banknote 1198:Current 723:15 July 420:Design 414:Colour 395:Designs 226:bullion 207:History 132:Reverse 100:Obverse 77:Polymer 1262:£1,000 353:, and 146:Design 114:Design 57:Height 27:pounds 25:Fifty 646:Notes 428:White 417:Size 402:Note 179:is a 49:Width 38:Value 1661:£100 1604:£100 1558:£100 1498:£100 1426:£100 1386:£100 1343:£100 1257:£500 1252:£200 1247:£100 1237:10/– 1120:2024 1094:2017 1066:2017 1006:2020 980:2018 954:2017 926:2016 899:2016 869:2016 839:2015 811:2019 783:2016 753:2021 725:2019 691:2021 542:2022 526:and 516:2021 487:2011 458:1994 434:1943 431:1725 387:and 385:€500 329:and 317:and 195:and 175:The 1656:£50 1651:£20 1646:£10 1628:AIB 1599:£50 1594:£20 1589:£10 1553:£50 1532:£20 1527:£10 1493:£50 1488:£20 1483:£10 1442:£50 1421:£20 1416:£10 1381:£50 1376:£20 1371:£10 1338:£50 1333:£20 1328:£10 1221:£50 1216:£20 1211:£10 289:. 1778:: 1641:£5 1636:£1 1584:£5 1548:£5 1478:£5 1411:£5 1366:£5 1361:£1 1323:£5 1242:£1 1206:£5 1110:. 1083:. 1054:. 1037:. 1021:. 996:. 970:. 943:. 915:. 885:. 855:. 827:. 802:. 791:^ 774:. 761:^ 741:. 714:. 699:^ 383:, 357:. 349:, 345:, 341:, 337:, 333:, 325:, 321:, 313:, 309:, 305:, 1164:e 1157:t 1150:v 1122:. 1096:. 1068:. 1008:. 982:. 956:. 928:. 901:. 871:. 841:. 813:. 785:. 755:. 727:. 693:.

Index

pounds
sterling

King Charles III

Alan Turing
Elliott & Fry
sterling
United Kingdom
Bank of England
computer scientist
World War II codebreaker
Alan Turing
Bank of England
French Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
bullion

gold standard
Queen Elizabeth II
Christopher Wren
John Houblon
James Watt
Matthew Boulton
Whitbread Engine
Soho Manufactory
ultraviolet
Alan Turing

Mary Anning

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.