We first issued our current £50 note on 2 November 2011. We will replace it with a new polymer £50 note after the polymer £20 has been issued.
At the end of 2018, we asked the public to nominate who they’d like to appear on the back of the new £50 note. We’re going through the next stages of our character selection process now and we’ll announce the chosen character in summer 2019.
This is our largest note, measuring approximately 156mm x 85mm.
Red.
The large number 50 and £ symbol in the top left corner of the front of the note help you easily see its value. There is also a number 50 in the top right corner and in the bottom right corner.
A unique serial number is printed horizontally and vertically on the back of the note. The horizontal numbers is in the bottom right corner. It is made up of multi-coloured letters and numbers, which increase in height from left to right. The vertical number runs down the left-hand side and the numbers and letters are the same height and colour.
The international copyright symbol is included on the front and the back of the £50 note. You can find it to the left of the motion thread on the front of the note and under the words ‘James Watt 1736 – 1819’.
De La Rue.
Boulton and Watt were leading lights of the industrial revolution. Boulton was an entrepreneur, while Watt was an engineer and scientist who made revolutionary changes to the efficiency of the steam engine. In 1775, the two formed a partnership to develop and market steam engines, and the designs were taken up worldwide. The metric unit of power is named after James Watt.
£50 note - key security features
Hold the £50 note up to the light to see an image of the Queen and a bright £50.
Watermark on the fifty pound note
How to check the motion thread on the £50 note
The special paper gives our banknotes their unique feel.
You will feel raised print in areas such as the words 'Bank of England' and in the bottom right corner, around the number 50.
Raised print on the fifty pound note
Ultraviolet feature on the front of the fifty pound note
Metallic thread on the fifty pound note
The printed lines and colours on the £50 note are sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges.
Clear vs blurred on a fifty pound note
Close up vs magnified on the Fifty pound note
Shapes added on the front and back of fifty pound note