2019-08-16 Fri

The British Museum has added two parody banknotes to its collection of fake currency notes that were produced by a group named Bath for Europe. These notes highlight the importance of the anti-Brexit movement that’s gaining traction and also symbolises the fact that people have lost their trust in senior government officials.

The notes feature portraits of Jacob Rees-Mogg and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The one depicting Johnson is designed like a £10 and features a propaganda message that reads “I promise not to pay the NHS the sum of £350m pounds.” The Rees-Mogg note looks like a £50 guinea note and features the text “I promise to pay myself more than you”. They also carry a fake Latin slogan that reads “Arrogantus Toffo Posterium.” Senior officials of the museum state that these notes represent the economic, social and political history of England. Parody banknotes are produced to publicize a political message or an ideology. The museum had recently acquired Banksy’s fake £10 notes that were printed in 2004 depicting Princess Diana. However, the production was terminated as people were using them for transactions. Keeping this problem in mind, the latest ones look like banknotes only on one side.

Bath for Europe group wanted to highlight the fake promises made by these leaders along with the ugly side of Brexit Campaign. 5000 such notes have been distributed in rallies to create awareness. The group claims that the notes come from “Bank of Brexit lies” and are meant only for the privileged.

The museum officials don’t mind displaying pro-Brexit banknotes but no such samples have been produced as of now since they probably don’t want to highlight the £350m figure. Museum officials claim that since the economic and political trends witnessed in England over the last five years could have a big impact on the country’s future, they have been recorded by treasuring these parody notes.

Image Courtesy: Bath for Europe group