. ? or
Menu
Cart 0

Blog — Polymer

The UK's top collecting stories of 2016

Posted by Mark Liversidge on

2016 has certainly been an eventful year for British coins and banknotes, with several stories hitting the headlines. As the year draws to a close, here is a look back at our favourites. New Polymer £5 note creates a collecting frenzy On September 13th the Bank of England introduced its first ever plastic banknote - the first in a complete overhaul of the existing paper notes to improve their durability. The early issues with low serial numbers immediately sent the public into a collecting frenzy and it was not long before some notes were changing hands online for thousands of pounds.  Beatrix...

Read more →

Released today: the Bank of England's first plastic banknote

Posted by Mark Liversidge on

Today the Bank of England has released a brand new £5 note - the first ever polymer (or "plastic") banknote they have issued. Polymer notes are made from a flexible plastic, which is resistant to dirt and water, making them considerably more durable. Each note is expected to last around five years - two and a half times longer than their paper counterparts.  The new banknote itself features a familiar portrait of much-loved Prime Minister Winston Churchill along with a number of new security features, including a see-through window and foil Elizabeth Tower - which is gold on the front and...

Read more →