The £5 note is an important part of British currency. It's a small piece of paper, but it has a long history.
The first £5 note was issued in the United Kingdom on this day 15th April 1793 by the Bank of England. At that time, the note was quite different from what it is today. It was much larger and featured an engraving of the bank's first governor, Sir John Houblon.
Over time, the design of the £5 note changed. In 1853, the Bank of England began to issue notes that featured the portrait of Queen Victoria. This design was used until 1902 when a new design featuring a portrait of King Edward VII was introduced.
Above is the 1935 £5 note (200mm × 113 mm)
In 1957, the Bank of England began to issue notes that featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This design is still in use today as currency hasn't been changed to feature King Charles III.
The current £5 note is made from polymer, which is a type of plastic. This material is more durable than paper and lasts longer, which means that the notes need to be replaced less frequently. The new £5 notes also feature a number of security features to prevent counterfeiting.
Above current £5 released 2016 (125mm × 65 mm) By http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/Pages/current/current_polymer5.aspx, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50344867
In addition to the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the current £5 note features a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill was a famous British politician and Prime Minister who led the country during World War II.
From its humble beginnings as a large piece of paper to its current form as a durable and secure piece of plastic, the £5 note is our smallest bank note and has played an important role in British currency for over two centuries.
Who features on your lowest banknote? What is the value? Let me know in the comments.
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