Bank of Scotland £20 note

The Bank of Scotland £20 note is a banknote of the pound sterling. It is the third largest of five banknote denominations issued by the Bank of Scotland. The current polymer note, first issued in 2020, bears the image of Walter Scott on the obverse and a vignette of the Forth Bridge on the reverse.

Twenty pounds
(United Kingdom)
Value£20
Width139 mm
Height73 mm
Security featuresRaised print, metallic thread, watermark, microlettering, UV feature, iridescent band, see-through registration device
Material usedPolymer
Years of printing1695–present
2020–present (current design)
Obverse
DesignWalter Scott
Design date2020
Reverse
DesignForth Bridge
Design date2020

History

Paper currency was introduced in Scotland immediately following the foundation of the Bank of Scotland in 1695. 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 The issuing of banknotes by Scottish banks was regulated by the Banknote (Scotland) Act 1845 until it was superseded by the Banking Act 2009.[1] Though strictly not legal tender in Scotland, Scottish banknotes are nevertheless legal currency and are generally accepted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 £20 note is currently the third largest of five denominations of banknote issued by the Bank of Scotland.[3]

The Tercentenary series of Bank of Scotland notes was introduced in 1995, and is named for the three hundredth anniversary of the bank's founding, which occurred in that year. Each note features a portrait of Walter Scott on the front. The £20 note has a square on the front (other denominations having different shapes) to aid identification for those with impaired vision. The back features an image of The Mound, the location of the bank's headquarters. Each denomination also features a rear design reflecting a certain aspect of Scottish industry and society. On the £20 note the rear design represents Scotland's achievements in research and education. Three symbols appear on the right-hand side of the rear of the note. These are (from top to bottom) Pallas, goddess of weaving (symbol of the British Linen Bank which merged with the Bank of Scotland in 1971), a saltire with gold bezants (part of the bank's coat of arms), and ship (symbol of the Union Bank of Scotland which merged with the Bank of Scotland in 1955.[4]

The Bridges series of banknotes was introduced in 2007 to replace the Tercentenary series. The size and colour remain is unchanged, and Walter Scott remains on the obverse. The image of The Mound was moved to the front and a new rear design featuring the Forth Bridge appears. The text has been updated to a more modern style and new large, raised numerals act as an aid for the partially sighted.[5]

On 27 February 2020, a new polymer £20 note was introduced to replace the paper notes.[6] A commemorative note was also issued to celebrate the newest bridge over the Forth, the Queensferry Crossing.[7]

Designs
Note First issued Colour Size Design Additional information
Tercentenary1995Purple149 × 80 mmFront: Walter Scott; Back: Education and research
Bridges17 September 2007Purple149 × 80 mmFront: Walter Scott; Back: Forth Bridge
Polymer27 February 2020Purple139 × 73 mmFront: Walter Scott; Back: Forth Bridge

Information taken from The Committee of Scottish Bankers website.[3]

References
  1. "Banknote History". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  2. "Scottish and Northern Ireland Banknotes Factsheet" (PDF). Association of Commercial Banknote Issuers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  3. "Current Banknotes : Bank of Scotland". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  4. "Banknote Design Features : Bank of Scotland Tercentenary Series". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  5. "Banknote Design Features : Bank of Scotland Bridges Series". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  6. "Polymer Banknotes". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  7. "Bank of Scotland - £20 Polymer (Queensferry Crossing Commemorative note)". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
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