Current banknotes

The Bank of England banknotes.

There are four denominations of banknotes in circulation: £5, £10, £20 and £50.

All four denominations of notes are printed on polymer.

This film will run through a number of key security features found on all the notes. You should check these features to ensure notes are genuine.

There is a large see-through window. 

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.

A metallic image is positioned over the window.  

The foil is gold on the front of the £5 and £10 notes; gold and blue on the front of the £20 note; and gold and green on the front of the £50 note…The foil is silver on the back of all notes.

On the £20 and £50 notes there is a second, smaller window in the bottom corner of the note.

Below the main see-through window on the front of all the notes, there is a silver foil patch containing a hologram. When you tilt the note from side to side, the words change between the value of the note and ‘Pounds’.

A 3D image of the coronation crown appears above the main see-through window.  

On the back of the notes, directly behind the silver crown on the front, there is a metallic, foil patch.

The foil is green on the £5 note, copper on the £10 note, purple on the £20 note and red on the £50 note.

On the front of the notes, you can feel raised print.  For example, on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner.

Under a good quality ultra-violet light, the numerical value appears in bright red and green on the front of the notes, against a duller background.

The Bank of England banknotes.