UK to drop historic figures from banknotes and change them to images of wildlife
a day ago
- #British Wildlife
- #Currency Design
- #Banknotes
- Famous British figures like Winston Churchill and Jane Austen will be removed from Bank of England banknotes.
- They will be replaced by images of British wildlife to celebrate natural heritage and enhance security.
- The decision followed a public consultation with over 44,000 responses, where nature was the favorite theme (60%).
- Wildlife imagery offers better counterfeit prevention due to intricate natural details.
- The new designs will focus on native species, excluding pets, and may include plants, animals, birds, or landscapes.
- A panel of experts will shortlist wildlife subjects, followed by another public consultation.
- The final selection will be made by BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, but new notes won’t circulate for several years.
- The reigning monarch’s portrait (King Charles III) will remain on the front of all notes.
- Historical figures first appeared on BoE notes in 1970 (William Shakespeare); before that, only the monarch and Britannia were featured.
- Reactions are mixed—supporters see it as unifying, while critics call it 'bonkers' for removing iconic figures.