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Thursday 27 July 2017

542) Jane Austen (Author): Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of her passing away (18.07.1817-18.07.2017) with the issue of (i) a 10 Pound Polymer Banknote by the Bank of England (ii) a 2 Pound commemorative coin by the Royal Mint, UK on 18.07.2017:

542) Jane Austen (Author): Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of her passing away (18.07.1817-18.07.2017) with the issue of (i) a 10 Pound Polymer Banknote by the Bank of England on 14.09.2017 (ii) A 2 Pound commemorative coin by the Royal Mint, UK on 18.07.2017:

i
) A 10 Pound Polymer Banknote being issued by Bank of England featuring Jane Austen:


On 18.07.2017, the 200th Anniversary of the passing away of celebrated author Jane Austen, the Bank of England  (BOE) unveiled the design of the second Banknote in the latest "G" Series with a  new 10 Pound Banknote, featuring the world renowned author. The Banknote is printed on polymer and is the first BOE Banknote with a tactile feature to help the visually impaired users.
The Banknote featuring Jane Austen was unveiled at the historic Winchester Cathedral, the resting place of the author. The Cathedral features in the background of the Banknote

This Banknote which is scheduled to be released into circulation on 14.09.2017, will join the Winston Churchill 5 Pound Polymer Bank of England Banknote in circulation.

 BOE will issue into circulation a new 20 Pound Polymer Banknote featuring J.M.W. Turner which is scheduled for release in 2020

Polymer Banknotes have an edge over paper notes presently in circulation, in that, the sophisticated security features make them difficult to counterfeit/replicate by unscrupulous persons and they also last 2.5 times longer than the paper notes. Moreover, polymer Banknotes are safer, stronger and cleaner.

The new tactile feature on the new 10 Pound Banknote is a series of raised dots in the top left-hand corner which has been developed in co-ordination with the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind people). This is in addition to the elements already incorporated in BOE Banknotes for vision impaired persons - the tiered sizing, bold numerals, raised print and differing colour palettes.

The new Banknotes will circulate parallely with the presently circulating Charles Darwin paper Banknotes, which will cease to be legal tender in the Spring of 2018. (The exact date will be notified later by BOE, at least three months in advance).  

The 10 Pound Banknote will carry forward the legacy
of UK Banknote's serving as repositories of the country's "collective memory", promoting awareness of UK's glorious history and highlighting the contributions of its best known citizens over the ages. 

The 10 Pound Banknote celebrates Jane's work. Her novels have a universal appeal and are as popular today as they did when they were first published.

The security features on the new 10 Pounds Banknote include:

- A see-through window featuring the Queen's portrait

- Winchester Cathedral shown in gold foil on the Front of the Banknote and Silver on the Back

- A quill at the side of the window which changes from purple to orange

- A hologram which contains the word "Ten" and changes to "Pounds" when the Banknote is tilted.

-  A hologram of the coronation crown which appears 3D and multi-coloured when the Banknote is tilted

- A book-shaped copper foil patch which contains the letters "JA"

- Micro-lettering beneath the Queen's portrait with tiny letters and numbers that are visible under a microscope

- The words "Bank of England" printed in intaglio (raised print) along the top of the Banknote.

The design includes: 

- The quote - "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!" from Pride and Prejudice (Miss Bingley, Chapter XI)

- Portrait of Jane Austen. An engraving by William Home Lizars  that was commissioned by her family and based upon an original sketch of Jane Austen drawn by her sister, Cassandra Austen

- An illustration of Miss Elizabeth Bennet undertaking "The examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her" - from a drawing by Isabel Bishop

- The image of Godmersham Park, which was home of Edward Austen Knight, Jane's brother. Jane visited the house often which was the inspiration for several of her novels.

- Jane's writing table - the central design in the background is inspired by the 12 sided writing table and writing quills used by her at Chawton Cottage.



As with the "G" Series 5 Pound Banknote, the new 10 Pound Banknote is 15% smaller than the Charles Darwin "E" Series Banknote presently in circulation.

A "protest" petition against having no women featuring on the presently circulating BOE Banknotes, except for the Queen's effigy speeded up the unveiling of the Austen Banknote:

Interestingly, there was a signed petition being signed by British citizens, submitted to the Bank of England mentioning, inter alia, that as the portrait of prison reformist Elizabeth Fry would be removed from the 5 Pound Banknote denomination and would be replaced by Winston Churchill's image, no British women would be represented on the country's currency, with the exception of Queen Elizabeth II who has appeared on the Front of all BOE Banknote's since 1960.

The unveiling of the Jane Austen 10 Pound Banknote was, therefore speeded up by BOE to stem such "protests".

About Jane Austen (1775-1817):

She was born in 1775 as the 7th child and second daughter of Cassandra and George Austen, who was an Oxford-educated rector for a nearby Anglican parish. As a result of George's background, his children grew up in an environment that stressed upon learning and creative thinking.

While Jane received some accolades for her works while she was still alive, with her first three novels garnering critical attention and increasing financial reward, it was not until after her death that her brother Henry revealed to the public that she was an author. She is considered to be one of he greatest  writers in English history, in novels including "Sense and Sensibility", Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma". While she was not widely known in her lifetime, her reputation increased rapidly during the early part of the 20th Century.
This sculpture is a part of the display of the works of Jane Austen. In it she is seen writing on the 12-sided writing table - now included on the reverse of the new 10 Pound Banknote
Jane Austen's 12 sided writing table and quill dipped inside an inkpot displayed at the British Library

(ii) A 2 Pound commemorative coin by the Royal Mint, UK on 18.07.2017:

The Royal Mint, UK has also brought out a two pound coin commemorating the Author. The coin has been issued in several qualities - 22 Carat Gold(884 pieces maximum mintage), Silver(8,000 pieces maximum mintage), Piedfort Silver (2,500 pieces maximum mintage) and Brillant Uncirculated (BU).
The Cover of the album in which the Brilliant Uncirculated Coin is placed


The Reverse of the 2 Pound bimetallic Brilliant Uncirculated coin shows the effigy of Jane Austen facing right
                                      The two faces of the BU coin

The specifications of the Brilliant Uncirculated coins are:
Denomination: 2 Pounds; Alloy: Inner: Cupro-nickel; Outer: Nickel Brass; Weight: 12.0 grams; Diameter: 28.40 mm; Reverse Designer: Dominique Evans; Obverse Designer: Jody Clark; Year of issue: 2017.

Posted on 18.08.2018:

I have got a new 10 Pound Banknote recently for my collection from Ajit who was visiting the UK for a short trip:

The Front of the 10 Pound Banknote, whose design features are described above

The Back of the above 10 Pound Banknote, whose design features are described above










Bank of England Banknotes:

1) A Ten Pounds Banknote issued on Charles Dickens (Writer) also depicting a cricket match from his novel "The Pickwick Papers"

2) A Ten Pound Banknote issued on Charles Darwin (English Naturalist) also depicting the HMS Beagle, Darwin's magnifying glass, a humming-bird & flora that he may have seen on his voyage.

3) A Five Pounds Banknote issued on George Stephenson (an Engineer) also depicting "Rocket" his Railway Locomotive and Skeene Bridge on theStockton Darlington Railway (1825) - since withdrawn

4) A 20 Pounds Banknote issued on Michael Faraday (a Scientist) issued in 1991, since withdrawn from circulation in 2001 


5) Great Britain's first circulating polymer Banknote issued by the Bank of England in the denomination of 5 Pounds on 13.09.2016

6) Jane Austen: features on the second circulating Polymer Banknote of 10 Pounds denomination to be released on 14.09.2017

Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
  
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote

Banknotes from Bank of Scotland:

1) The Ryder Cup Commemorative Banknote: A 5 Pounds Banknote issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2014 

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

13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence

14) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-Hopper Penguin 

15) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The Gentoo Penguin:Second Coin in the series of four coins issued on 20.06.2017 

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

5) The new 12-sided One Pound UK Coin introduced into circulation on 28.03.2017

 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 


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