247) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge: by featuring them on the first ever Great Britain's issue of a 5 (Five) Pound fully Polymer Banknote by Clydesdale Bank, Scotland in March 2015:

247) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge:  by featuring them on the first ever Great Britain's issue of a 5 (Five) Pound fully Polymer Banknote by Clydesdale Bank, Scotland in March 2015:

Great Britain’s first ever fully polymer Banknote celebrates the 125^th Anniversary of one of the greatest innovative Scottish achievements – Sir William Arrol’s Forth Bridge.

For Clydesdale Bank’s first ever Polymer Five Pound Banknote, the image of the iconic Forth Bridge (on the Back) and the Engineer whose company built the bridge,  Sir William Arrol (on the Front) were chosen.

Polymer Banknotes billed as the Future of “paper” money by Clydesdale Bank:

Labelled as the future of “paper money”, Clydesdale Bank has introduced a “fully polymer” Banknote in the denomination of 5 Pounds into circulation.

Polymer Banknotes are an innovative alternative to paper Banknotes. They are produced from a thin, transparent plastic film rather than cotton paper. The Polymer Banknotes have advanced security features such as clear portions or “windows” in their design, while they retain their traditional look.

Polymer Banknotes provide the following added advantages over Paper Banknotes:

Secure: Polymer Banknotes incorporate advanced security features which make them more difficult to counterfeit.

Clean: They stay cleaner than paper Banknotes as they are resistant to dirt and moisture.

Durable: Polymer Banknotes last at least two and a half times longer than paper Banknotes which make them more environmentally friendly.

This Banknote differs from regular paper Banknotes in that it is smaller, stronger, cleaner and made of plastic, resulting in more safe and secure banking.

About Sir William Arrol (13.02.1839 – 20.02.1913): 

                         A photograph  of Sir William Arrol

At the age of nine, William Arrol began work in a cotton mill just outside Glasgow.

By the age of 13, he was training as a blacksmith. During this time, he attended night school and learnt mechanics and hydraulics.

In 1863, he started work at a bridge manufacturing company in Glasgow.

He mastered his trade and became skilled in all aspects of bridge building.

In 1872, he started his own company, the Dalmarnock Iron Works.

By the late 1970s he founded Sir William Arrol & Co. which went on to become a leading international civil engineering company. His company redefined the way bridges were built, using steel and a newly developed riveting method.

In 1878, he built the Caledonian Railway Bridge over the River Clyde which is still being used – present day.

In 1882, his company was chosen to reconstruct the Tay Rail Bridge which had collapsed earlier in 1879. When Sir Arrol had finished re-construction of Tay Bridge, it was the largest bridge of its kind in the World.

In 1890, Sir Arrol built a legacy in constructing the Forth Bridge, which is one of the most iconic and recognisable structures in the World.

Later, Sir Arrol built the Tower Bridge in London and designed the foundations for the Finnieston Crane in Glasgow.

A visionary, he changed the way bridges were built to last and whose ingenuity and legacy still influences the way bridges are built today.

Sir William Arrol’s days of steam power and steel are long gone. However, his vision remains very much a part of Scotland’s daily life from the Forth Bridge itself to its inclusion on Great Britain’s first polymer Banknote.

About the Forth Bridge (04.03.1890 – present day): 

 An image of the Forth Bridge as it stands today even after 125 years after its inauguration.

The Forth Bridge is truly a landmark, both physically and in terms of engineering. It is one of Scotland’s most iconic structures and is recognised around the Globe. Since its inauguration on 04.03.1890, it has been an inspiration for all – Engineers to Advertisers and from Authors to Filmmakers.

Designed as a Cantilever bridge which spans the Firth of Forth, in Eastern Scotland, it crosses from South Queensferry on the Edinburgh side to North Queensferry on the Fife side. Thus, the Bridge connects Edinburgh (Capital of Scotland) with Fife and is a major Rail–link between the North–East and South–East of the country.

The Bridge is 8296 feet (or 2,528.60 metres) in length – spanning a little over 1.5 miles. It is estimated that around 6.50 million rivets hold the steel frame together and that 39,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction.

In 1882, the construction of the Forth Bridge was started by Sir Arrol’s company which built it in many innovative ways. On completion, it was an astounding feat of engineering that is still considered an engineering marvel today.

 At the height of the project’s implementation around 4600 workers were employed to build the bridge. With so many employees, the company hired a paddle steamer to transport them. A double track crossing was built which was elevated to around 150 feet (or 46 metres) above high tide.

The bridge’s construction was based on the principle of the cantilever type of bridge. In other words, a cantilever beam supports a lighter central girder. This Engineering principle has been used for thousands of years in the construction of bridges.

The Forth Bridge is constructed of:

-      Three main spans of 1,710 feet (or 520 metres)

-      Two side spans of 675 feet (or 206 metres)

-      Fifteen approach spans of 168 feet (or 51 metres)

-      Five spans of 25 feet (or 7.60 metres)

Each main span comprises two 680 feet (or 210 metres) cantilever arms supporting a central 350 feet (or 110 metres) span truss.

Learning from the experience of the Tay Bridge collapse in high winds in 1879, the Forth Bridge was given a “belt and braces” design giving the bridge extra reinforcement so as to give it extra strength. This accounts for some of the structure’s iconic steelwork.

The Forth Bridge is also known as the Forth Rail Bridge so as to distinguish it from the Forth Road Bridge.

The distinctive red bridge carries around 200 local and intercity trains across the Forth every day and forms a key part of the national East Coast Main Line.

The world’s first major steel edifice still remains a potent symbol of Britain’s industrial, scientific, architectural and transport heritage and of Scotland’s engineering expertise and ingenuity.

Till 1917, the Forth Bridge was the longest single cantilever bridge span in the world. It currently is the second largest such Bridge in the World after the Quebec Bridge. 

Forth Bridge: included as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2015:

The Forth Bridge was nominated for World Heritage Site status in 2012, as is mentioned on the Back of the Banknote. This status has since changed, when the Bridge was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations body UNESCO in July 2015, at its meeting in Bonn, Germany. The Forth Bridge thus becomes Scotland’s sixth World Heritage Site.

This prestigious cultural accolade is a befitting way to celebrate the 125^th Anniversary of the iconic Forth Bridge which opened to much acclaim in March 1890 and remains one of the most recognisable structures in the World today.

An image of the Front of the Album showing an image  of the Forth Bridge made by William Arrol. Inscribed on the Album cover is  "Our commemorative 5 Pound polymer banknote" and Clydesdale Bank.

An image of the Front of the Commemorative 5 pound Banknote, depicting the portrait of William Arrol as contained in the plastic cover in the Banknote album.

An image of the Front of the Commemorative 5 (Five) Pound Banknote depicting the portrait of William Arro. Notice the Serial number "FB/1 536881 is given in an exploding font format, which is an anti counterfeiting measure.

An image of the Back of the Commemorative 5 (Five) Pound Banknote, showing an image of the Forth Bridge. Mentioned on this face is "The Forth Bridge: UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination.

The Back Cover of the Banknote album explains the salient features of the Front of the Five Pound Polymer Banknote as under:

1) The numeral 1 marks the portrait of Sir William Arrol, his name and dates of birth and death.

2) The numeral 2 marks the Titan Crane

3) The numeral 3 indicates a section of the Forth bridge in the security window.

4) The numeral 4 marks the Spark Orbital Map of Scotland.

The Back Cover of the Banknote album explains the salient features of the Back of the Five Pound Polymer Banknote as under:

1) The numeral 1 indicates the Forth Bridge

2) The numeral 2 shows an InterCity 125 train on the Forth Bridge

3) A section of the Forth Bridge as seen in the  security window.

Some other issues commemorating the iconic Forth Bridge:

a)Forth Bridge featured on the one Pound coin issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2004:

This coin was issued in 2004 and has the Queen’s bust designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and engraved on all British coins since 1998, on the Obverse. This coin is from the Scotland edition of British one Pound coins.

The edge inscription on this coin is two overlapping lines, one curved and one angular.

 The Reverse of this coin shows the Forth Railway Bridge, encircled by a Railway Line.

It is one of the most famous internationally recognised Scottish landmarks and is in line to get the UNESCO World Heritage site status.

b)Bank of Scotland issues under the “Prominent Scottish Bridge Series” included the Forth Bridge on the 20 Pound Banknote:

The 2007 Series of Banknotes issued by the Bank of Scotland in their “Prominent Scottish Bridges Series”, featured the Forth Bridge on the 20 Pound note.

(The above Banknote is from the collection of Jayant Biswas. Banknote album scanned and post researched and written by Rajeev Prasad) 

 

Links:

British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 

11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint 

Famous Battles: 

1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 

2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone

 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

Inspirations from Scottish History: 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes

Banknotes from Scotland:
  
1) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote