Queue here for your £5,000 plastic tenner
COLLECTORS have been rushing to get their hands on the new £10 note – with some listed on eBay for £5,000. There were queues outside the Bank of England yesterday morning as around a billion of the notes, featuring Jane Austen’s portrait, went into circulation. Just 32 cashpoints nationwide are stocking the new currency because thousands of others are not yet able to dispense them. The Queen received the first note, with the serial number AA01 000001. The most desirable serial numbers for collectors begin with AA01 or bear significance to Miss Austen, such as her date of birth.
The paper note featuring Charles Darwin is due to go out of circulation next spring. The new note was hailed by campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez, who fought for four years to get the esteemed author featured on the tenner. Bank of England governor Mark Carney said yesterday the new note celebrated Jane Austen’s work. A new £20 note featuring artist JMW Turner will be introduced in 2020.