The Bank of England has seen unprecedented public engagement in its consultation for new banknote designs, with over 400,000 votes cast to decide which animals will be featured on future currency. The initiative, which aims to replace historical figures with a nature theme on £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes, has generated significant public interest.
Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, described the level of participation as "more than we've ever had on a banknote design consultation." The consultation, which remains open until July 3, allows the public to select two animals from a shortlist in three categories: mammals, birds, and amphibians/insects/fish. Each category features six distinct animals.
This shift to a wildlife theme was driven by public preference. According to Cleland, a previous survey indicated that "nature overwhelmingly came out the favorite" when compared to continuing with historic figures. The bank aims to ensure the public feels connected to the notes they use daily.
Design and Security Considerations
Beyond public appeal, the redesign incorporates enhanced security features to combat counterfeiting. "The serious side of it is that we are changing the security features to make the notes even more counterfeit resilient," Cleland stated. The new designs will also facilitate easier differentiation between denominations. Cleland explained the goal is to feature a mix of animals, such as a sea creature, a bird, and a mammal, each with different backgrounds and visual cues, to help users distinguish the notes and focus on security elements.
The shortlisted animals include a bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten, and red fox for mammals. For birds, the options are the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker, and white-tailed eagle. The amphibians, insects, and fish category features the Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly, and marsh fritillary butterfly.
An expert panel will review the public's input, and the final decision will be made by Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England. The outcome of the consultation is expected at the end of 2026. The Bank of England emphasizes that the entire process, from design to printing, is a multi-year endeavor focused on creating high-quality, secure, and accessible banknotes incorporating advanced anti-counterfeiting technology.