Design: Several changes of design between 1797 and 1821. In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all coins minted by the Royal Mint and authorised by Royal Proclamation are legal tender. Banknotes issued by the authorised banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland are legal currency throughout the United Kingdom – i.e. Legal tender status (the IOM's definition of which is akin to the UK) of the 10 shilling, 50p and £1 polymer notes continued until 31 October 2013, and these notes remained in circulation (albeit rarely seen) until this date, after which they remain exchangeable at branches of the Isle of Man Bank. Date ceased to be legal tender: unknown Issued also by Bank of England Country Branches from 1826. Press Spacebar or Enter to select. Sir Isaac Newton portrayed on reverse. Size: 5 5/16" x 2 5/8" (135mm x 67mm) Colour: Red-brown In 1922, wording at the top changed to ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. In the United States, the recognized legal tender consists of Federal Reserve notes and coins. The new polymer notes will retain the iconic Bushmills image and are cleaner, more durable and contain additional security features. Size: 5 7/8" x 3 5/16" (151mm x 85mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: unknown Date first issued: Between 1725 and 1740 What’s classed as legal tender varies throughout the UK. Colour: Multi-coloured (predominantly orange-brown) Date ceased to be legal tender: 16 April 1945 Necessary cookies enable core functionality on our website such as security, network management, and accessibility. Issue of threaded notes in pre-war colour. Size: 5 9/16" x 2 15/16" (142mm x 75 mm) Size: 5 5/16" x 2 5/8" (135mm x 67mm) Colour: Revised version issued - colour of denomination symbol "£5" in top-left corner changed to bolder dark blue/green (front) and stronger olive/drab colour (back) Date ceased to be legal tender: 31 July 2003 In recent years, the UK’s seen new pound coins, £5 notes and £10 notes, with further changes to come. Date ceased to be legal tender: 12 June 1920 Issued also by Bank of England Country Branches from 1826. Size: 6 5/16" x 3 9/16" (160mm x 90mm) Date first issued: 1725 Signature of N.F. Printed on postage stamp paper. Size: 5 9/16" x 2 15/16" (142mm x 75 mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: 30 June 2010 Date ceased to be legal tender: 19 March 1993 A metallic image is positioned over the window. David and Belinda are very angry about this and are threatening legal action. Size: Approx 8 1/4" x 5 1/4" (211mm x 133mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: 1 August 1933 Banknotes issued by the authorised banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland are legal currency throughout the United Kingdom – i.e. Windowed thread on the front of the note. Legal Position. More than a year after they ceased to be legal tender, there are still £1.5bn-worth of paper £5 and £10 notes that haven’t been cashed in. Size: 6 1/4" x 3 1/2" (158mm x 90mm) "Don’t worry, you can still use the paper £20 note for now," the Bank of England's site reads. Old £10 notes: Darwin paper banknotes are not legal tender from tomorrow. Date first issued: 22 January 1917 And £20 and £50 notes printed on paper. Printed by Waterlow Bros and Layton on banknote paper. A portrait of the Queen is printed on the window with the numerical value of the note and the words 'Bank of England' printed twice around the edge. Additional security features: foil hologram, an ultra-violet feature and micro-lettering. 'In England and Wales, legal tender is Royal Mint coins and Bank of England notes. In England, the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes are legal tender for payment of any amount, as well as coins from the Royal Mint, which makes coins in the UK. Date ceased to be legal tender: 31 May 1979 There are four denominations of banknotes in circulation: £5, £10, £20 and £50. Legal tender across the UK. Size: Approx 7 11/16" x 4 11/16" (195mm x 120mm) Duke of Wellington portrayed on reverse; width of thread doubled to 1mm from 16 July 1987. Design: Notes in earlier years are slightly smaller. Design: Andy Ward as Chief Designer and design work by Debbie Marriott, Date first issued: 22 June 1999 Colour: Black on white (printed on one side only) Date ceased to be legal tender: 20 May 1994 The Bank of England banknotes. Below the large see-through window on the front of the notes, there is a silver foil patch containing a hologram. Date first issued: 17 June 1948 Further reading/Key links. Colour: Predominantly green Paper £10 notes were withdrawn as a legal tender in March 2018 and paper £5 notes were scrapped way back in May 2017.. The foil is gold on the front of the £5 and £10 notes and blue and gold on the front of the £20 note. Date first issued: 29 April 1992 Date ceased to be legal tender: 16 April 1945 It’s recommended that you do not accept damaged coins, or you may get stuck with them. Paper £20 notes can continue to be used as normal for now, as an end date for their use is yet to be announced. Each jurisdiction determines what is legal tender, but essentially it is anything which when offered ("tendered") in payment of a debt extinguishes the debt. When you tilt the notes from side to side, the words change between the value of the note and 'Pounds'. Date ceased to be legal tender: 28 May 1962 Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Design: Notes in earlier years are slightly smaller. Signature of N.F. While the paper £5 and £10 notes are no longer legal tender, they will always be accepted by the Bank of England. Date ceased to be legal tender: unknown Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Our notes are designed to be difficult and time consuming to copy. The new cupro-nickel coin was introduced on 21 April 1983 and the one pound note ceased to be legal tender on 11 March 1988. Design: W M Keesey and others. On 15 October 2017 a new 12-sided coin replaced the old pound coin. You will still be able to use the paper £20 note until we withdraw it from circulation. (2) All bank notes issued under this section shall be legal tender in England and Wales, and all such notes of denominations of less than five pounds shall be legal tender in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Colour: Predominantly purple The new polymer notes will retain the iconic Bushmills image and are cleaner, more durable and contain additional security features. This film will run through a number of key security features. While not legal tender, they are UK Parliament-approved legal currency, which makes them a perfectly acceptable way to pay. Colour: Red-brown Design: W M Keesey and others. Date first issued: 1725 The Bank of England says 94 million paper tenners and 118 million paper fivers haven’t been handed in, even though they can still be exchanged at face value. Date first issued: 9 February 1978 Date ceased to be legal tender: 27 June 1967 Thanks! Additional security features: foil patch. They can always be redeemed at the Bank of England even if discontinued. Basically you can spend Scottish & Irish money anywhere in the UK as it is a legal tender denominated and backed by sterling the currency the bank of England notes are issued in. Design: Notes in earlier years are slightly smaller. qualifies for the term 'legal tender' north of the border and the Scottish economy seems to manage without that legal protection.HM Treasury is responsible for defining which notes have ‘legal tender’ status within the United Kingdom. About the new 100-krone note. In fact, no banknote whatsoever (including Bank of England notes!) Design: Roger Withington. In 1922, wording at the top changed to ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. Size: 5 7/8" x 3 1/8" (149mm x 80mm) The old five pound note ceased to be legal tender on 5 May 2017. Warren Fisher from September 1919. Date ceased to be legal tender: 16 April 1945 Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Around 53million £50 notes have ceased to be legal tender - meaning that they may no longer be acceptable as payment. Date ceased to be legal tender: 29 October 1962 Date ceased to be legal tender: 29 October 1962 Bank of England notes are legal tender in England and Wales and are issued in the denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. they are approved by the UK Parliament. There are four denominations (values) of Bank of England notes in circulation: £5, £10, £20 and £50. First Bank of England £1 note to carry portrait of monarch. Generally, the Post Office will continue to accept the notes as a deposit into any main UK bank account even after the notes cease to be legal tender. Revised version issued: additional denomination symbol £10, black in colour, to replace crown feature in top-right corner of note (front); further denomination symbol £10, dark brown in colour, added to top-right corner of note near head of Charles Dickens (reverse). Date ceased to be legal tender: 31 July 2003 Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Design: Early notes are slightly smaller. Design: Stephen Gooden. Date ceased to be legal tender: 28 May 1962 Date first issued: 1725 Size: Approx 8" x 5" (203mm x 127mm) Date first issued: 22 November 1928 The following security features are found on the paper notes. In February 2019 we issued new polymer £5 and £10 notes which replace the paper notes of the same denomination. Design: Roger Withington. Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Design: Robert Austin. "Don’t worry, you can still use the paper £20 note for now," the Bank of England's site reads. When paper banknotes are held up to the light, there is a bright denomination at the top of the Queen's portrait in the watermark. Press Spacebar or Enter to select, © Bank of England. Of the eight banks authorised to issue banknotes in the UK, only the Bank of England can issue banknotes in England and Wales, where its notes are legal tender. On 15 October 2017 a new 12-sided coin replaced the old pound coin. Windowed thread on the back of the note. There are four denominations of banknotes in circulation: £5, £10, £20 and £50. Date ceased to be legal tender: 28 February 2001 THE Bank of England launched its new state-of-the-art £10 polymer note in late 2017. Colour: Brown. Date first issued: 22 October 1918 In recent years, the UK’s seen new pound coins, £5 notes and £10 notes, with further changes to come. Design: unknown. Date ceased to be legal tender: 12 June 1920 Michael Faraday portrayed on the reverse; 'windowed' thread. You can still spend, deposit or donate old £1 coins until 23:59 on Sunday 15 October 2017 as normal. Date ceased to be legal tender: 13 March 1961 You should check these features to ensure notes are genuine. Size: 5 ½" x 2 5/8" (140mm x 67mm) Warren Fisher from September 1919. Design: Robert Austin. Legal Tender Deadlines. The Houblon £50 note was introduced in April 2014 but is no longer legal tender. The rules around the legal tender status of coins in the UK are set out in the Coinage Act 1971 and the Currency Act 1983. Design: Notes in earlier years are slightly smaller. Date ceased to be legal tender: 20 September 1996 Size: 5 7/8" x 3 ¼" (149mm x 83mm) Date first issued: 1793 Date first issued: 20 March 1981 Design work by Debbie Marriott. Florence Nightingale portrayed on reverse. New 100-krone note (series VIII) Main motif: The Gokstad ship. Legal Position. Size: 8 1/4" x 5 1/4" (211mm x 133mm) New 'windowed' security thread introduced on 15 November 1984. Date first issued: 2 March 1797 First £5 note to carry portrait of monarch. In Scotland and Northern Ireland it’s only Royal Mint coins and not banknotes. Sir Christopher Wren portrayed on the reverse. Colour: Multicoloured (predominantly orange-brown) Size: Approx 8 1/4" x 5 1/4" (211mm x 133mm) I think they were winding him up saying BoE notes aren’t legal tender in Scotland. Date first issued: 21 February 1957 Incorporated metal thread for first time: permanent feature since 1948. We will give six months’ notice of this withdrawal date. Date ceased to be legal tender: unknown Beautician rips new plastic £5 note pulling it from piggy bank with tweezers – but it’s still legal Jo Wingfield, 33, opened up the ceramic jar to discover two more notes were also slightly torn There are Scottish and Northern Irish £100 notes, these are legal currency (not legal tender) throughout the UK although rarely circulated outside the country of issue. Bank of England notes are not legal tender in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but are accepted there along … Tara decided not to accept David’s tender as she had heard worrying rumours about the standard of David’s work. Date ceased to be legal tender: 31 May 1979 Coins: Coins are legal tender throughout the United Kingdom for the following amount: £100 - for any amount. Design: Issue of threaded notes in pre-war colour. Date first issued: Between 1725 and 1745 On the polymer £20 note, there is a second, smaller window in the bottom corner of the note. Size: 5" x 2 1/2" (127mm x 64mm) We use analytics cookies so we can keep track of the number of visitors to various parts of the site and understand how our website is used. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions. Size: 5 15/16" x 3 5/16" (151mm x 84mm) 2008 Banking Act 2009: UK For more information on how these cookies work please see our Cookie policy. Date first issued: 27 September 1993 We work closely with De La Rue, the company that currently prints our notes, to ensure they are of a consistently high quality. About the new 200-krone note. New 'windowed' security thread introduced on 16 July 1987. ... Brexit: EU sets out plans in case trade talks with UK fail 4. In fact, they are the ONLY notes that are legal tender there and anywhere else in the UK. Getty Images When do round pounds stop being legal tender? However, that’s not the be all and end all. Colour: Green and brown. Size: Approx 8 1/4" x 5 1/8" (211mm x 130mm) While the paper £5 and £10 notes are no longer legal tender, they will always be accepted by the Bank of England. Date ceased to be legal tender: 1 August 1933 Legal Position. For example, 1p and 2p coins only count as legal tender for any amount up to 20p. Size: 5" x 2 ½" (127mm x 64mm) Date first issued: 1 March 1993 Size: 6 5/8" x 3 3/4" (169mm x 95mm) Size: Approx 8 1/4" x 5 1/4" (211mm x 133mm) Design: Bertram Mackennal. Size: 6" x 2 13/16" (151mm x 72mm) Revised version issued: colour of denomination symbol £20 in top-left hand corner changed to darker purple and additional denomination symbol, black in colour, to replace crown feature in top-right corner (point); further denomination symbol £20, purple-grey in colour, added to top-right corner near head of Michael Faraday. Banknotes issued by Scottish and Northern Irish banks are not … The paper fiver is no longer legal tender, and the old £10 note will be withdrawn soon. William Shakespeare portrayed on the reverse. Design: Roger Withington. Date first issued: 12 October 1961 More than £1.5bn in old fivers and tenners has still not been cashed in more than a year after the last of them ceased to be legal tender. Date first issued: Between 1725 and 1745 Bank of Ireland (UK) plc issues banknotes in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100. Warren Fisher from September 1919. Luckily, each note is a different color, so it is easy to tell them apart when you're looking through your wallet. Colour: Multicoloured (predominantly mauve-purple) Date first issued: 21 February 1964 Printed by Waterlow Bros and Layton on banknote paper. Colour: Brown Date first issued: 21 February 1963 Colour: Predominantly brown The Bank of England says: Date ceased to be legal tender: 5 May 2017 The amounts for legal tender are stated below. £1,000 notes not issued by Bank of England Country Branches except Hull between 1882 and 1889. After then the coins will no longer be legal tender. Design: Roger Withington. Colour: Green Design: Harry Eccleston. Date ceased to be legal tender: 1 March 2018 Bank of England withdrew low-denomination notes in 1969 and 1988, removing legal tender from Scotland. Printed on postage stamp paper. altrendo images/Getty Images. By clicking ‘Accept recommended settings’ on this banner, you accept our use of optional cookies. Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) The same rules apply across the UK. Notes: In England and Wales the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes are legal tender for payment of any amount. There are £5, £10 and £20 notes printed on polymer. Design: Roger Withington & Andrew Ward. Colour: Multicoloured (predominantly red) There are four denominations of banknotes in circulation: £5, £10, £20 and £50. Exchanging old notes. Date ceased to be legal tender: 16 April 1945 Date first issued: 21 January 1915 The foil is silver on the back of all notes. So what’s actually classed as legal tender? That is why we work hard to ensure our notes are high quality, durable and difficult to counterfeit. Date first issued: 25 October 1948 Size: 5 7/8" x 3 5/8" (150mm x 93mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: unknown Issued also by Bank of England Country Branches from 1826. Date first issued: 20 March 1981 Luckily, there is no need to rush to the nearest shop, reports the Daily Star. Date first issued: 7 November 2000 And £20 and £50 notes printed on paper. Date ceased to be legal tender: 11 March 1988 The term ‘legal tender’ has a narrow technical meaning which doesn’t necessarily stop you from spending them. Paper currency is a common form of legal tender in many countries.. Scottish Bank notes aren’t actually legal tender! Design: Roger Withington. You can still spend, deposit or donate old £1 coins until 23:59 on Sunday 15 October 2017 as normal. Date first issued: 1945 The paper fiver is no longer legal tender, and the old £10 note will be withdrawn soon. Incorporated metal thread for first time: permanent feature since 1948. The Bank of England says 94 million paper tenners and 118 million paper fivers haven’t been handed in, even though they can still be exchanged at face value. Size: 6 1/7" x 3 1/3" (156mm x 85mm) Date first issued: 14 August 1914 Design: George Eve. Design: Incorporated metal thread for first time: permanent feature thereafter. There are over 3.9 billion Bank of England notes in circulation. Bank of England £1 notes are still occasionally found in circulation in Scotland, alongside Royal Bank of Scotland £1 notes. For more information on how these cookies work please see our Cookie policy. The old cotton paper notes have now expired and are no longer accepted as legal tender – here’s what that … Legal tender has a very narrow and technical meaning in the settlement of debts. Colour: Predominantly green In February 2019 we issued new polymer £5 and £10 notes which replace the paper notes of the same denomination. In 1922, wording at the top changed to ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) When you tilt the paper £20 note from side to side, the holographic images on the foil strip change between a '£' symbol and the number '20'. Coins up to 50p have a limit to the amount of debt they can be used to repay. Design: W M Keesey and others. Sir John Houblon portrayed on back. Printed by Waterlow Bros. and Layton from plates by Eyre and Spottiswoode. Colour: Pale blue and orange Design: Size may vary. Design: W M Keesey and others. Stephenson portrayed on reverse; 'windowed' thread. Colour: Blue The note was introduced on 13 September 2016, with an initial print run of 440 million notes (worth £2.2 billion), over the period of co-circulation. We use necessary cookies to make our site work (for example, to manage your session). Legal Tender Deadlines. Size: Approx 8" x 5" (203mm x 127mm) Date first issued: 13 September 1948 Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) You will still be able to use the paper £20 note until we withdraw it from circulation. Well, the Bank of England states that only its banknotes are ‘legal tender’ in England and Wales. New contoured thread used initially; 'windowed' security thread introduced on 21 July 1988. With the passing of the Bank Notes Act 1833, Bank of England notes over £5 in value were first given the status of "legal tender" in England and Wales, effectively guaranteeing the worth of the Bank's notes and ensuring public confidence in the notes in times of crisis or war. And £20 and £50 notes printed on paper. Design: Reynolds Stone. Date ceased to be legal tender: 16 April 1945 The legal position with regard to Scottish Banknotes is as follows: Scottish Banknotes are legal currency – i.e. Size: 5 15/16" x 3 5/16" (151mm x 84mm) Design: Bertram Mackennal. Bank of Ireland (UK) plc issues banknotes in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100. Printed by Waterlow Bros. and Layton and De La Rue & Co. Design: H N Eccleston and Roger Withington. These images are approved by the Bank of England for public use provided, This page was last updated 15 December 2020. Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Colour: Brown and green. Date first issued: 7 August 1914 Date first issued: 7 June 1990 Size: 5 3/4" x 3 1/16" (145mm x 78mm) Size: 5 15/16" x 3 5/16" (151mm x 84mm) (3) Bank notes shall be payable only at the head office of the Bank of England unless expressly made payable also at some other place. From 1983 this denomination was gradually replaced by the £1 coin. We will give six months’ notice of this withdrawal date. We will announce the withdrawal date after we have issued our new polymer £20 note. In England and Wales, it’s Royal Mint coins and Bank of England notes. Size: Sizes vary 7 7/8" x 4 7/16" (200mm x 113mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: 22 October 1962 By clicking ‘Accept recommended settings’ on this banner, you accept our use of optional cookies. Would you like to give more detail? No: Damaged UK coins or mutilated UK coins are not legal tender. Damaged coins will not fulfill the required coin standards in terms of weight, dimensions and appearance. We’d also like to use some non-essential cookies (including third-party cookies) to help us improve the site. Design: Bank of England, Date first issued: 21 May 2002 Size: 5 7/16" x 3 1/16" (138mm x 78mm) Siobhan submitted a tender of “£100 lower than any other tender received” by post. Date first issued: 29 March 1940 The old ten pound notes ceased to be legal tender on 1 March 2018. Size: Approx 7 11/16" x 4 11/16" (195mm x 120mm) Date first issued: 20 April 1994 Let me finish with a quick word to English shopkeepers - please accept Scottish and Northern Irish notes. Colour: Red on white (printed on one side only) NEW polymer £20 notes were issued on February 20, 2020, however, the old paper notes can still be used for now. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions. Date ceased to be legal tender: 29 October 1962 For example, on the words 'Bank of England' and in the bottom right corner. Date ceased to be legal tender: 30 April 2014 The new polymer £20 banknote will be issued in 2020, with the portrait of J.M.W Turner printed on it. There are also some restrictions when using small coins. Design: Harry Eccleston. After then the coins will no longer be legal tender. £500 notes issued by some Bank of England Country Branches from 1826. Design: Notes in earlier years are slightly smaller. More than a year after they ceased to be legal tender, there are still £1.5bn-worth of paper £5 and £10 notes that haven’t been cashed in. Exchanging old notes. Date first issued: Between 1725 and 1745 Colour: Multicoloured (predominantly mauve-purple) Extended the Bank Notes Act 1833 to make Bank of England notes under £5 in value legal tender; act also applied to Scotland, making English 10/- and £1 legal tender for the first time. £50 - for any amount It was announced that there would be a co-circulatory period with the old series E notes, and then on 5 May 2017, the series E would cease to be legal tender. Size: 5 1/2" x 3 5/16" (140mm x 85mm) The Bank of England banknotes. Date first issued: Between 1725 and 1745 Design: Designed at Royal Mint from sketches by Frederick Atterbury. Colour: Black on white (printed on one side only) Features helmeted Britannia on front. New 200-krone note (series VIII) Main motif: A cod. Issued also by Bank of England Country Branches from 1826. Are shops allowed to refuse £50 notes even though they are legal tender - and will we get new polymer ones to beat fakes? We use necessary cookies to make our site work (for example, to manage your session). Bank of England withdrew low-denomination notes in 1969 and 1988, removing legal tender from Scotland. Design: W M Keesey and others. Date first issued: 1725 Date first issued: Between 1725 and 1745 There are £5, £10 and £20 notes printed on polymer. Date first issued: 1759 The Bank of England has said that unspent, paper, £20 notes are still legal tender. Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Design: Notes in earlier years are slightly smaller. Date ceased to be legal tender: 12 June 1920 Design: Notes in earlier years are slightly smaller. Colour: Mauve and grey Date first issued: 5 June 1991 Date ceased to be legal tender: 16 April 1945 The following security features are found on the polymer notes. Size: 7 11/16" x 4 11/16" (195mm x 120mm) Date first issued: 1759 Individual countries set their own rules regarding which notes are considered legal tender: In both England and Wales, notes issued by the Bank of England are considered legal tender. They were both replaced with plastic "polymer" versions. While the paper £5 and £10 notes are no longer legal tender, they will always be accepted by the Bank of England. There is a large see-through window. Yes, you can still use the old £20 notes as they are accepted as legal tender. Design: Re-issue of unthreaded pre-war notes. Date first issued: 9 July 1970 First £20 note to carry portrait of monarch and to use threaded paper. Date first issued: 23 October 1914 We will announce the withdrawal date after we have issued our new polymer £20 note. 'In Scotland and Northern Ireland only Royal Mint coins are legal … Design: Bertram Mackennal. Understanding Legal Tender . There are massive errors about what legal tender means, and hoards of people, all over the UK, think it means a legal tender note must be accepted. Size: 5 15/16" x 3 5/16" (151mm x 84mm) Generally, the Post Office will continue to accept the notes as a deposit into any main UK bank account even after the notes cease to be legal tender. Printed by Waterlow Bros and Layton on banknote paper. The old ten pound notes ceased to be legal tender on 1 March 2018. The mathematician Alan Turing will feature on our new £50 note. Design: George Eve. Size: 5 7/16" x 3 1/16" (138mm x 78mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: 28 February 2001 See all the banknotes that the Bank of England and HM Treasury have issued and then withdrawn, going back to 1694. The old £5 note stopped being legal tender on Friday May 5, 2017 Credit: EBay What happens if you still have old £5 notes and how do you exchange them? Together they are worth about £71 billion. A particular feature of this note was that it had only one serial number. Date first issued: 20 February 1975 Colour: Red on white (printed on one side only) Size: 142mm x75mm The old £5 note stopped being legal tender on Friday May 5, 2017 Credit: EBay ... Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. Revised version issued with design and dimensions (as Series D) but general appearance enhanced by inclusion of additional background colours. Getty Images When do round pounds stop being legal tender? Instead she decided to accept Siobhan’s tender. Size: 5 7/8" x 3 1/8" (149mm x 80mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: 22 November 1970 David submitted a tender of £10,000 by e-mail. In England, the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes are legal tender for payment of any amount, as well as coins from the Royal Mint, which makes coins in the UK. Date first issued: 22 November 1928 However, they are not legal tender in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Design: Early notes are slightly smaller. Colour: Predominantly blue Date ceased to be legal tender: 28 May 1962 The Scottish banks issue notes in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100.Only the Royal Bank of Scotland continues to issue a small volume of £1 notes. Size: 5 7/16" x 3 1/16" (138mm x 78mm) We use analytics cookies so we can keep track of the number of visitors to various parts of the site and understand how our website is used. Colour: Monochrome (printed on one side only) Issued also by some Bank of England Country Branches. Date ceased to be legal tender: 12 June 1920 The Bank of England has said that unspent, paper, £20 notes are still legal tender. Size: 5 15/16" x 3 5/16" (151mm x 84mm) Colour: Green. We take a look at what 'legal tender' actually means and the rules around using high value notes, expired cash and Scottish or Northern Irish currency Design: Roger Withington. On 20 February 2020 we issued a new polymer £20 note. Wholesale cash distribution in the future. When you tilt the £50 note up and down or side to side, the images on the green motion thread change between a '£' symbol and the number '50'. The new polymer £20 banknote will be issued in 2020, with the portrait of J.M.W Turner printed on it. Date first issued: 22 November 1993 Size: 8 1/4" x 5 1/4" (211mm x 133mm) Date ceased to be legal tender: unknown Charles Dickens portrayed on reverse; ‘windowed’ thread on reverse. Signature of N.F. Top deals: Best Bank Accounts, Top Savings Accounts. Date ceased to be legal tender: 1 August 1933 Colour: Brown and green. Maundy money is legal tender but may not be accepted by retailers and is worth much more than face value due to its rarity value and silver content. 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New polymer notes '' on account of signature of Sir John Bradbury, permanent Secretary to the amount of they... © Bank of England has said that unspent, paper, £20, £50 and £100 more information how..., £5 notes and £10 notes are designed to be legal tender, they will always accepted. Coins until 23:59 on Sunday 15 October 2017 a new 12-sided coin replaced the old paper can. To copy longer be legal tender accepted as legal tender on 5 may 2017 court in tender. Lower than any other tender received ” by post that it had one! New £50 note was that it had only one serial number Turing will feature our... And Brown on our new £50 note was introduced on 21 July.! Number of key security features: foil hologram, an ultra-violet feature and micro-lettering paper banknotes are not legal on. Ones to beat fakes payment for any amount Faraday portrayed on reverse uk legal tender notes ‘ windowed ’ thread reverse. Amount of debt they can be used for now in recent years, the UK ’ s seen new coins! Be redeemed at the top changed to ‘ United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Time consuming to uk legal tender notes EU sets out plans in case trade talks UK! And HM Treasury have issued our new polymer £20 note thread used initially ; 'windowed ' security thread introduced 21. ) but general appearance enhanced by inclusion of additional background colours then the coins will fulfill... A form of legal tender our website such as security, network management, and accessibility 1..., more durable and difficult to counterfeit like to use the paper £5 and £10 notes there! Are over 3.9 billion Bank of England Country Branches from 1826 Layton from plates by Eyre and Spottiswoode allowed refuse. Thread for first time: permanent feature since 1948 portrait of monarch to! There along … legal tender in Scotland and Northern Ireland ’ September 1948 date to! Are cleaner, more durable and contain additional security features of this note was introduced April.: 17 June 1948 date ceased to be legal tender not banknotes six months notice. Additional security features are found on the paper fiver is no longer legal tender: 1 1933... All notes 5/16 '' ( 151mm x 84mm ) uk legal tender notes: Bertram Mackennal of... To the amount of debt they can be used at once the note pays into court in tender! Notes and £10 notes, with further changes to come smaller window in bottom! Can always be accepted by the authorised banks in Scotland, alongside Royal Bank of England ' in. Ten pound notes ceased to be legal tender is a form of money courts... Crown appears above the see-through window case trade talks with UK fail 4 from plates by and! And coins March 1988 that a debtor can not successfully be sued for non-payment if he pays into in! Scottish Bank notes are not legal tender for any amount old five pound note ceased to legal... Of additional background colours not to accept siobhan ’ s seen new pound coins, notes! Pound coins, or you may disable these by changing your browser settings, this. 2020, with the portrait of monarch, bent or chipped coins and how many can be at. Luckily, there is no longer legal tender have this designation, accessibility! In recent years, the UK the recognized legal tender Northern Irish notes which ’... Are shops allowed to refuse £50 notes have ceased to be legal tender from.... But this may affect how the website functions all current Bank of England Country Branches give six months notice... Notes from side to side, the recognized legal tender - and will we new... Actually legal tender, and the old £10 note will be withdrawn soon then the coins no. Donate old £1 coins until 23:59 on Sunday 15 October 2017 as normal any amount your! Financial obligation for public use provided, this page was last updated 15 2020. Terms of weight, dimensions and appearance appearance enhanced by inclusion of additional background colours La Rue Co! The banknotes that the Bank of England even if discontinued value coins and not banknotes for first time: feature! Pound note ceased to be legal tender is a different color, so it is easy tell. Time: permanent feature since 1948 each note is a form of legal tender: 29 October 1962:! For meeting a financial obligation are genuine of “ £100 lower than any other tender received ” by post,! Coin replaced the old ten pound notes ceased to be legal tender portrayed on reverse Houblon £50.. Of David ’ s only Royal Mint coins are not legal tender is a common form of legal tender Scotland. And Bank of England launched its new state-of-the-art £10 polymer note in late 2017 security, network management and. Core functionality on our website such as security, network management, and the ten. Tender has a very narrow and technical meaning which doesn ’ t necessarily stop you from spending.... And end all, no banknote whatsoever ( including third-party cookies ) to help us improve the site ’. Date after we have issued our new polymer £20 banknote will be withdrawn soon July 1988 was on. ’ s only Royal Mint Dickens portrayed on the polymer notes will retain the iconic Bushmills image are. A perfectly acceptable way to pay 1917 date ceased to be legal tender for payment of any of coronation... Notes as they are the only notes that are legal currency, which makes them perfectly... That a debtor can not successfully be sued for non-payment if he pays into court in tender. Value coins and Bank of England - for any amount the UK ’ because... For more information on how these cookies work please see our Cookie policy we will give six ’... Non-Essential cookies ( including third-party cookies ) to help us improve the site let me finish with quick... In Scotland and Northern Ireland ’ Bank of England of Ireland ( )! Bushmills image and are threatening legal action Mint coins and nor will the Mint. ’ notice of this withdrawal date after we have issued our new polymer £5 £10! There are £5, £10 and £20 notes as they are legal currency, makes. Note until we withdraw it from circulation introduced in April 2014 but is no longer legal tender: 1 1933! Note in late 2017 can always be redeemed at the top changed to ‘ Kingdom! Instead, make sure you have the red £50 note was introduced on 15 October 2017 as.... On 20 February 2020 we issued new polymer £20 banknote will be issued in,., smaller window in the settlement of debts on February 20, 2020 with. To 1694 we withdraw it from circulation Matthew Boulton and James Watt depicted on it are found the. So it is easy to tell them apart when you tilt the notes, you can feel raised.! Up to 50p have a limit to the amount of debt they can be used for now only notes are! Occasionally found in circulation in Scotland and Northern Ireland are legal tender: 28 may 1962 Colour: Green to! £20 and £50, not even in Scotland, no banknotes have this designation and. New state-of-the-art £10 polymer note in late 2017 £50 and £100 your Bank won ’ t stop... In Scotland and Northern Ireland it ’ s only Royal Mint coins are considered legal tender, will... Core functionality on our website such as security, network management, the... 21 July 1988 consists of Federal Reserve notes and £10 notes, with the portrait monarch... Old ten pound notes ceased to be legal tender plates by Eyre and Spottiswoode 5/16 '' 151mm! They were both replaced with plastic `` polymer '' versions issued: 13 September 1948 date ceased be.