The Bank of England has today unveiled the design of the New Tenner which will be issued on Thursday 14th September 2017. The New Tenner is the second Bank of England note to be printed on polymer and will be around 15% smaller than the existing paper £10.

The new £10 note incorporates enhanced security features and there are also a number of design elements which relate to Jane Austen. A portrait of Jane Austen can be found on the back of the note. Next to the portrait is an illustration of Elizabeth Bennet, a character from Pride and Prejudice. The quote ‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!’ was said by Miss Bingley in Pride and Prejudice. Beneath this image is Godmersham Park House, the estate owned by Jane Austen’s brother. The foil image over the window is Winchester Cathedral, where Jane Austen was buried in 1817, aged just 41.

Key Security Features 

A clearly defined portrait of the Queen is printed on the see-through window with the words '£10 Bank of England' printed twice around the edge.

At the side of the window is a coloured quill which changes from purple to orange when the note is tilted. This effect can be seen on the front and back of the note. 

A silver foil patch which changes from 'Ten' to 'Pounds' when the note is tilted, and a multi-coloured effect appears.

A silver foil patch containing an image of the coronation crown which appears 3D. When the note is tilted a multi-coloured rainbow effect can be seen.

The printed lines and colours on the note are sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges.

When running your finger across the front of the note you can feel raised print in areas such as the words 'Bank of England' and in the bottom right corner, around the number '10'.

A book-shaped copper foil patch containing the letters JA on the back of the note.

The new £10 note is printed on polymer — a thin and flexible plastic material. It’s around 15% smaller than the paper £10 note. Polymer notes are cleaner, more secure and last longer than paper notes. They will provide enhanced counterfeit resilience, and increase the quality of notes in circulation. On the front of the £10 polymer note (the side with raised print), there are two clusters of raised dots in the top left hand corner. This tactile feature helps blind and partially sighted people identify the value of the note. The polymer £20 will also have a tactile feature, but with a different pattern. The polymer £5 will be identifiable as the only polymer note without a tactile feature.

Key Dates

14th September 2018 - New £10 enters circulation 

Spring 2018 - Old £10 note is removed from circulation

The old £10 will be withdrawn from circulation during Spring 2018. You can continue to use the paper £10 note, featuring Charles Darwin, until it is withdrawn. Further details about The New Tenner can be found on www.thenewten.co.uk

The new polymer £20 note, featuring JMW Turner, will be issued in 2020. No plans have yet been made to replace the £50 note featuring Boulton and Watt an announce ment will be made in due course.