The Bank of England banknotes.
There are two versions of the banknotes in circulation. One version featuring a portrait of King Charles III and one version featuring a portrait of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
There are four denominations of the banknotes in circulation: £5, £10, £20 and £50.
All four denominations of notes are printed on polymer.
The security features are the same on both the King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II notes.
This film will run through those key security features found on all the notes. You should check these features to ensure notes are genuine.
There is a large see-through window.
A clearly defined portrait of either King Charles III or Queen Elizabeth II is printed on the window with the numerical value of the note and the words ‘Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.
A metallic image is positioned over the window.
The foil is gold on the front of the £5 and £10 notes; gold and blue on the front of the £20 note; and gold and green on the front of the £50 note. The foil is silver on the back of all notes.
On the £20 and £50 notes there is a second, smaller window in the bottom corner of the note.
Below the main see-through window on the front of all the notes, there is a silver foil patch containing a hologram. When you tilt the note from side to side, the words change between the value of the note and ‘Pounds’.
A 3D image of the coronation crown appears above the main see-through window.
On the back of the notes, directly behind the silver crown on the front, there is a metallic, foil patch.
The foil is green on the £5 note, copper on the £10 note, purple on the £20 note and red on the £50 note.
On the front of the notes, you can feel raised print. For example, on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner.
Under a good quality ultra-violet light, the numerical value appears in bright red and green on the front of the notes, against a duller background.
The Bank of England banknotes.
FAQs
If you look at a currency note, you will see a line of squares running across the middle. This line is known as a security thread. On a real note, the security thread is incorporated through the currency. Thus, to check for a fake note, you can look at this feature.
How can you check bank notes? ›
Instead check for as many as possible of the following:
- Serial Numbers. Genuine notes have unique serial numbers therefore if you have two notes displaying the same serial number at least one of them is a counterfeit.
- Paper. ...
- Watermark. ...
- Security Thread. ...
- Printing. ...
- Move/Tilt. ...
- Detector Pen. ...
- UV Light.
Serial Number
A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note. Each note has a unique serial number. The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year. A “star” suffix is used to identify notes that serve as replacements during the production process.
How to verify USD notes? ›
To check the security features in U.S. currency, feel the paper, tilt the note, and check with light and with magnification.
- Move your finger across the note. ...
- Feel. ...
- Federal Reserve Note Identifiers. ...
- Note position letter and number. ...
- Series year.
Search in Google Keep
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Keep app.
- At the top right, tap Search .
- Type the words or label name you're looking for, or click an icon to filter your search results: ...
- When you have your results, tap a note to open it.
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
What is my banknote worth? ›
Most circulated Federal Reserve Notes from more modern series are worth no more than face value. Some of the early series notes (1928 and 1934) do carry a small premium, although for circulated notes this premium is small, usually 10% to 30%.
Are bank notes still valid? ›
If you find old paper notes in your wallet or around the house don't throw them out. All “genuine” banknotes that have been withdrawn from circulation can be swapped for a newer equivalent, as they still retain their face value, the Bank of England explained. You are able to swap notes at banks and some post offices.
Is there a website to check serial numbers? ›
SNDeepInfo — service for checking a serial numbers of phones, smartphones, cameras, household appliances and IMEI phones of all brands.
What is the best banknote identifier app? ›
NoteSnap is a perfect app for banknote collectors. With the help of cutting-edge AI-driven technology, NoteSnap allows you to effortlessly identify and catalog your banknotes within seconds.
When a coin or bank note has been officially withdrawn from circulation it stops being legal tender. That means that retailers, and other organisations are not obliged to accept them, but it doesn't mean the cash is worthless. The Bank of England will always exchange old-series notes.
How do you authenticate notes? ›
To authenticate a window and all the elements it might contain, a person needs to look at it directly, rotate the note to see the window at another angle, hold it up to the light, and view on a different background (light or dark).
Is there an app to check dollar bills? ›
Easily identify banknotes with Cash Reader! Just point your camera at any bill from over a hundred supported currencies and hear its value instantly. Key Features Loved by Our Users: Fast and Precise Identification: Recognizes even small portions of banknotes.
How do you verify cash money? ›
How can you tell if money is fake?
- Check for color shifting ink. ...
- Check for raised printing. ...
- Look closely for blurry borders, printing, or text. ...
- Look for red and blue threads in the bill. ...
- Check the watermark. ...
- Check for the security thread. ...
- Check new $100's for security ribbon.
Easily identify banknotes with Cash Reader! Just point your camera at any bill from over a hundred supported currencies and hear its value instantly. Key Features Loved by Our Users: Fast and Precise Identification: Recognizes even small portions of banknotes.
Do currency notes expire? ›
All U.S. currency remains legal tender, regardless of when it was issued.
How do you check paper currency? ›
The watermark should match the portrait on the bill. Look for security threads: Most genuine banknotes have a thin, embedded security thread that runs vertically through the bill. Hold the bill up to the light, and you should see the thread with text or a denomination repeated on it.
