Austen on U.K. note a tale of cents, sensibility
At the unveiling Tuesday of the new “tenner” at Winchester Cathedral in southern England, Bank of England Gov. Mark Carney said the new note celebrates the “universal appeal” of Austen’s work.
“Our banknotes serve as repositories of the country’s collective memory, promoting awareness of the United Kingdom’s glorious history and highlighting the contributions of its greatest citizens,” Carney said.
The new note, which is due to go into circulation Sept. 14, is the bank’s latest effort to make its notes more secure by using plastic, not paper.
It’s printed on polymer, just like the recently relaunched 5-pound note, which features Winston Churchill.
The new note also includes a tactile feature to assist the visually impaired.
Apart from Queen Elizabeth II, whose portrait is on all U.K. currency, Austen is only the third woman to be featured on a modern-day British bank note, after medical innovator Florence Nightingale and social reformer Elizabeth Fry. She was chosen after a campaign for more female representation.
As well as a portrait of Austen, the note features a quote from “Pride and Prejudice”: “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!”