Wednesday, December 18, 2013

United Kingdom To Go Drastic With Plastic Bank Notes

The United Kingdom will begin issuing polymer banknotes in 2016 to both increase durability over paper and make counterfeiting more difficult.

The Detroit News: UK to issue plastic bank notes in 2016

The first note to be issued, the 5 pound, will feature the portrait of Winston Churchill, certainly a worthy and deserving gentleman to be so featured.

Hopefully the polymer notes won't have the crinkle and melting issues reported with the Canadian polymer bills.

The Bank of England has a nice video up on the new banknotes and decision to move to polymer.

Expect the US Treasury to catch up and start considering moving to polymer soon.

In the meantime, if you're looking for last minute gifts, the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing still has uncut sheets of US bills for sale. The sheets make rather unique gifts and collectibles, and in case of fiscal emergency can be cut and spent just like a regular banknote.

1 comment:

Scott said...

Thus beginning the demise of the phrase "Those (dollars/pounds/shekels/etc) aren't worth the paper they're printed on!". Joining others like "don't take any wooden nickels", and "pass me the bottle opener" on the list of phrases that anyone under the age of 40 can't relate to.