The Royal Bank of Scotland £5 note
| (United Kingdom) | |
|---|---|
| Value | £5 |
| Width | 135 mm |
| Height | 70 mm |
| Security features | Raised print, metallic thread, watermark, microlettering, UV feature |
| Paper type | Cotton |
| Years of printing |
1727–present 1987–present (current design) |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Lord Ilay |
| Design date | 1987 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Culzean Castle |
| Design date | 1987 |
The Royal Bank of Scotland £5 note, also known as a fiver, is a banknote of the pound sterling. It is the second smallest denomination of banknote issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland. The current cotton note, first issued in 1987 bears an image of Lord Ilay, one of the founders of the bank, on the obverse and a vignette of Culzean Castle on the reverse. A new polymer note featuring a portrait of the author Nan Shepherd on the front and a pair of mackerel on the reverse will begin circulating later in 2016.
History
The Royal Bank of Scotland began issuing £5 notes in 1727, the same year as the bank's founding. Early banknotes were monochrome, and printed on one side only. The issuing of banknotes by Scottish banks was regulated by the Banknote (Scotland) Act 1845 until it was superseded by the Banking Act 2009.[1] Though strictly not legal tender in Scotland, Scottish banknotes are nevertheless legal currency and are generally accepted throughout the United Kingdom. Scottish banknotes are fully backed such that holders have the same level of protection as those holding genuine Bank of England notes.[2] The £5 note is currently the second smallest denomination of banknote issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland.[3]
The current Ilay series of banknotes was first issued in 1987.[4] These banknotes feature a portrait of Lord Ilay, first governor of the bank, on the front. Lord Ilay's image is also used as a watermark on the notes. Other design elements include the bank's coat of arms and logo, the facade of the bank's headquarters in Edinburgh, and a pattern representing the ceiling of the headquarters' banking hall. All of the Ilay series notes feature a castle on the back. On the reverse of the £5 note is an image of Culzean Castle. Other versions of the £5 note have been produced since the introduction of the Ilay series to commemorate certain events, including the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the 250th anniversary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the 400th anniversary of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and a celebration of the career of the golfer Jack Nicklaus.[5]
In 2015 it was announced that a new polymer £5 note will be issued in the second half of 2016.[6] The new design was unveiled in April 2016, and features a portrait of the author Nan Shepherd on the front.[7] Alongside the portrait will be an image of the Cairngorms, as well as a quote from Shepherd's book The Living Mountain. The rear of the note will bear an image of two mackerel alongside an excerpt from Sorley MacLean's poem The Choice.[7]
Designs
| Note | First issued | Colour | Size | Design | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilay | 1987 | Blue | 135mm × 70mm | Front: Lord Ilay; Back: Culzen Castle | |
| Polymer | 2016 | Blue | Front: Nan Shepherd; Back: Two mackerel | ||
Information taken from The Committee of Scottish Bankers website.[3]
References
- ↑ "Banknote History". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ↑ "Scottish and Northern Ireland Banknotes Factsheet" (PDF). Association of Commercial Banknote Issuers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- 1 2 "Current Banknotes : Royal Bank of Scotland". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ↑ "Banknotes: 8 things you might not know". The Royal Bank of Scotland. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ↑ "Banknote Design Features : The Royal Bank of Scotland". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ↑ "Royal Bank of Scotland to issue polymer bank notes". The Royal Bank of Scotland. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- 1 2 "New £5 and £10 polymer notes unveiled". The Royal Bank of Scotland. Retrieved 9 June 2016.