2016-07-13 Wed

The design for the new £5 notes that are planned to be issued on 13th September were revealed in June by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. The new notes are going to feature Sir Winston Churchill.

The £5 note will commemorate the achievements of Sir Winston Churchill who is the only Prime Minister to win the Nobel Prize for literature and one of the greatest statesmen. He was the British prime minister during World War II and introduced several social reforms. He defended democracy and appreciated criticism. Officials stated that Churchill’s energy, courage, eloquence, wit and public service are an inspiration to all.

The reverse design depicts the portrait of Churchill, from a 1941 photograph in front of a view of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower which shows the time 3 o’clock. That was the time when he his first speech as prime minister on 13th May, 1940. A quote from his speech, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” is inscribed beneath the portrait. The Nobel Prize medal he was awarded in 1953 is also depicted in the background. The obverse features a common portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Experts state that the notes would be 2.5 times longer and will come with several strong security features like a see-through window, colour changing borders, gold and silver foils, holograms, micro-lettering, intaglio printing etc.

The old notes would be withdrawn gradually from September 13th onwards and the new notes will become legal tender by May 2017. The bank has plans to issue new £10 notes in 2017 and £20 notes by 2020.