2016-10-10 Mon

On 3rd October, the Spink & Son auction in London sold one of the first £5 polymer notes printed with a new design and a low serial number - AA01 000017 for £4,150. 601 banknotes were sold for £203,820, an amount which is 21 times more than its total face value of £9,375. New £5 polymer notes released last month featuring Winston Churchill with low serial numbers were a major highlight.

Other notes bore older designs but were the first ones which featured BOE’s latest chief cashier Victoria Cleland’ signature. A £20 2014 note serial numbered JH41 000001 was sold for £5,200. A £50 note with the serial number AJ36 000001 and a sheet of 60 new £5 notes each sold for £8,500. The money was donated to three charities chosen by the BOE. Officials said that the turnout for the main sale was far better this time.

The first £5 polymer notes are with the Royal Collection (one for the Queen and one for Prince Phillip) and the next ones are handed out at the discretion of the BOE.