Charlie’s banknotes at auction
A rare set of Jacobite banknotes – printed from the original copper plate ordered by Bonnie Prince Charlie 275 years ago – is to go under the hammer to raise money for a Highland museum.
The engraving plate was commissioned by “Young Pretender” Charles Edward Stuart in 1746 to produce money to pay his armies and fund a restored Stuart monarchy.
Before the money could be printed, the Jacobites suffered their crushing defeat at the Battle of Culloden and the copper plate was lost during Charles’ flight.
Rediscovered in the 19th Century, the plate was used in 1928 to create prints to support the new West Highland Museum.