Old £10 notes cease to be legal in March
THE paper £10 notes will cease to be legal tender in spring next year, the Bank of England has confirmed.
It is estimated that 55 per cent of tenners in circulation are polymer notes, which means there are a staggering 359 million paper notes currently in circulation.
The old note, which features Charles Darwin, was first issued on November 72000 and the new polymer tenner was released on September 14 this year.
If you have a few old paper £10 notes in your house, you will need to spend them before March 2 2018.
They will cease to be legal tender at 11.59pm on Thursday March 1 next year.
A statement from the Bank of England said: “Following the successful launch of the new Jane Austen £10 note on 14 September 2017, the Bank of England will withdraw legal tender status of the paper £10 note featuring Charles Darwin at 23:59 hrs (GMT) on Thursday 1 March.
“The public can continue to use the notes as normal as most paper £10 notes will be automatically removed from circulation.
“After 1 March 2018, it will still be possible for Charles Darwin notes to be exchanged at the Bank of England.”
Besides the fact that one is made of polymer and one of paper, here are some key differences between the notes:
Portrait of Jane Austen. Commissioned by James Edward Austen Leigh (Jane Austen’s nephew) in 1870, adapted from an original sketch of Jane Austen drawn by her sister, Cassandra Austen.
The quote – “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!” from Pride and Prejudice (Miss Bingley, Chapter XI).
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 (1902-1988).
The image of Godmersham Park. Godmersham was home of Edward Austen Knight, Jane Austen’s brother. Jane Austen visited the house often and it is believed that it was the inspiration for a number of her novels.
Jane Austen’s writtable – the central ing design in the background is inspired by the 12 sided writing table, and writing quills, used by Jane Austen at Chawton Cottage.