Foto Bloomberg
British banknotes of different denominations now feature prominent personalities who have played a significant role in the country’s history. On the 5-pound bill you can see former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, on the 10-pound bill – the writer Jane Austen, on the 20-pound bill – the artist William Turner, and on the 50-pound bill – the mathematician and cryptographer Alan Turing. After the redesign, their portraits may disappear from the banknotes, giving way to images of the natural world.
The Bank of England explains that such a step will allow to reflect the national identity of the country in a new way and emphasize the importance of the natural heritage of Great Britain. At the same time, the portrait of the current monarch, which is traditionally placed on British banknotes, will remain an unchanged element of banknotes.
The idea to update the design appeared after a large-scale public opinion poll conducted last year. About 44 thousand people took part in the study. The majority of respondents were in favor of the main theme of banknote design being wildlife. Themes related to historical personalities ranked only third in popularity.
According to Bloomberg, the discussion of the new design is also taking place against the backdrop of a wider public debate within the country. In recent years, there has been an increased focus on national history and the legacy of the British Empire in the UK. In addition, there has been an increase in the popularity of right-wing political forces, which also affects public sentiment.
It is expected that after the public vote, the Bank of England will present several design options, among which will be chosen images of animals and plants, the most symbolic for the nature of the United Kingdom. The new look of the banknotes may appear in circulation in the coming years after the final concept is approved.
