Security Features
Old-style £20 Note (Sir Edward Elgar)
 Feel
of the paper - banknotes are printed on special paper that gives them their unique feel.
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 Raised
print - this is used on some parts of the note.
By running your finger across the note you can feel raised
print in some areas, such as the words ‘Bank of England’
on the front of the note. |
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 Metallic
thread - the thread is embedded in the paper in
every banknote. This appears as silver dashes on the back
of the old-style £20 note. If you hold the note up to the light,
the metallic thread appears as a continuous dark line. |
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 Watermark
- hold the note up to the light and you will see
an image of the Queen’s portrait. This can also be viewed from the back of the note.
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 Hologram
- there is a hologram on the foil patch on the front of the old-style £20. If you tilt the note, the image will change between a brightly coloured picture of Britannia and the number ‘20’. |
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Ultra-violet feature - if you put a old-style £20 note under a good quality ultra-violet light (one that emits light at around 365 nanometres), its value appears as a bright red and green patterned number’20’ while the background is dull in contrast. Under ordinary light there is no trace of this number. |
 Microlettering
- using a magnifying glass, look closely at the lettering
beneath the Queen’s portrait – you will see
the value of the note written in small letters and numbers
– ‘TWENTY’ and ‘20’ |
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Quality
of the printing - the printed lines and colours
on banknotes are sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges.
Key Resources
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Know Your Banknotes Leaflet Provides a guide to the key recognition and security features on banknotes. Download PDF (811k) |
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New-style £20 Poster Download PDF (534k) |
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New-style £20 Leaflet Download PDF (607k) |
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Notes in Circulation and New Notes Issued table Download PDF (129k) |
