LONDON (Web Desk) – Banknotes in the U.K. will soon showcase images of nature rather than historical figures, following a public consultation on the next series of currency.
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Currently, the £5 note features former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, the £10 note honors author Jane Austen, the £20 note depicts painter J.M.W. Turner, and the £50 note celebrates mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing.
The Bank of England’s consultation last year received 44,000 responses, with around 60% favoring wildlife and nature over architecture, landmarks, historical figures, arts, culture, sport, or innovation.
A second consultation is planned for summer to decide which types of wildlife—such as foxes, badgers, beavers, squirrels, otters, deer, or seals—should appear on the new notes. A panel of wildlife experts will create a shortlist.
Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, said the redesign aims primarily to strengthen counterfeit protection but also provides a chance to celebrate the U.K.’s natural heritage. “Nature is ideal for banknote authentication and allows us to highlight the country’s rich wildlife,” she noted.
King Charles III will continue to appear on the front of the notes. The £50 remains the highest-denomination Bank of England note. For comparison, Zimbabwe issued a one-hundred-trillion-dollar note during the 2008 hyperinflation crisis.
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