The new £5 note has a major grammar blunder…But have you spotted it?

The Bank of England has been accused of “dumbing down” after choosing to remove punctuation from a quote by Sir Winston Churchill printed on the new polymer £5 notes.

The original concept image for the new polymer £5 notes correctly included double quotation marks around the former prime minister’s famous saying: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”

The Bank of England’s original concept design for the new £5 note included double quotation marks around Winston Churchill’s words CREDIT: Bank of England.

However the final £5 note design that was released into circulation does not include the quotation marks or full stop.

The new polymer fiver does not include quotation marks or a full stop.

The new Polymer £5 notes were issued in September and there are now around 400 million in circulation. You can find out everything you need to know about the polymer fiver here.

According to the Bank of England, the demand for cash continues to grow and the new polymer banknotes will shape the usage of cash in the future.

Did you know the new polymer banknotes are:

2017 marks 200 years since the death of Jane Austen – one of the best-loved English novelists of all time. And to celebrate such an inspirational female figure, the Bank of England have chosen to honour her on a brand new banknote.

The brand new £10 polymer banknote is due to be issued in September 2017 and you can find out more about the design here!

First look – the new Churchill £5 note revealed…

The New Sir Winston Churchill Polymer £5 Note

The New Sir Winston Churchill Polymer £5 Note © Bank of England [2015]

The Bank of England has just revealed their first ever polymer banknote in a ceremony at Blenheim Palace.

The new £5 note features an image of Sir Winston Churchill, alongside the famous quotation from his first speech as Prime Minister: ‘I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.’

In the background the clock on Queen Elizabeth’s Tower reads 3pm, the time Churchill was making his speech in 1940. Behind the Houses of Parliament you can see the Nobel Prize for literature which the great statesman won in 1953.

The New £5 Note

The other side of the £5 note featuring Queen Elizabeth II © Bank of England [2015]

The other side of the note features a raft of new security measures including a see-through window, multiple holograms and micro-lettering under the Queen’s portrait – which can only be viewed under a microscope.

But most importantly…

When can I find one in my change?

The new note will enter circulation on September 13th this year. However, with millions of existing five pound notes still in use you may not be able to find one straight away.

Will I still be able to spend my current £5 notes?

Yes you will, but only up until May 2017. After that, they will cease to be legal tender – but you will still be able to exchange them at the Bank of England.

So the new era of Plastic Banknotes is officially upon us! What do you make of the new design? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter or in the comments below.


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Sir Winston Churchill to replace Elizabeth Fry on the new £5 banknote

The Bank of England have confirmed that the new £5 note will be released into circulation in September this year and will feature Sir Winston Churchill, replacing Elizabeth Fry, currently on the £5 note.

The design

The design features the famous portrait of Churchill in 1941 known as the ‘Roaring Lion’ as well as his famous quote “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” which he made on the day he became Prime Minister.

The clock on the Parliament building in the background shows the time as 3 o’clock which is when Sir Winston Churchill made the address to the public.

Just above this is his Nobel Prize in Literature which he was awarded in 1953.

Each aspect of the new banknotes design appropriately captures Churchill and his contribution to the UK.

Plastic money – and it’s not your credit card

For the first time in its 300-year history, the Bank of England will issue polymer banknotes. Polymer is manufactured from a transparent plastic film and will be made from a cleaner and more durable material which can be used to incorporate new security features.

Infographic Polymer Banknotes 2-01

According to the Bank of England, the demand for cash continues to grow and the new polymer banknotes will shape the usage of cash in the future. It has been revealed that a new £10 banknote will be issued in 2017 featuring Jane Austin while a £20 is due for release by 2020 but it is yet to be decided who will feature.