New-style £20 Note (Adam Smith)

Design features

The new-style £20 note, with a profile of Adam Smith on the back, is the second highest denomination note in value and the second largest in size (approx. 149mm x 80mm).

Denomination numeral - Denomination numeral - a large number '20' and pound sign appears in the top left corner on the front of the note to assist easy recognition of its value; this negates the need for a specific symbol for the partially sighted. A slightly smaller value figure appears in the top and bottom right corners of the note.

Unique numbering – a unique number is printed horizontally and vertically on the back of the note. The horizontal number is in the bottom right-hand corner and consists of multi-coloured letters and numbers of graduating height. The vertical number runs down the left-hand edge and the letters and numbers are the same height and colour.

Copyright symbols – the international copyright symbol is included on the front and back of the new-style £20 note. This can be found to the left of the holographic strip on the front of the note and on the back under the words 'Bank of England'.

Historical character -
Adam Smith (1723 - 1790) is one of the fathers of modern economics. In one of his great works, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Smith famously used the example of workers in a pin factory to describe the benefits created by the division of labour, and, as explained on the note, "the great increase in the quantity of work that results".

 

 

Key Resources

	Andrew Bailey, Chief Cashier, talks about the new-style £20 note Watch webcast
	Know Your Banknotes Leaflet Provides a guide to the key recognition and security features on banknotes. Download PDF (811k)