Uk pound

Pounds and Pence One British pound is made up of 100 pence. There are coins with 1, 2, 5, 1, 20, and 50 pence denominations as well as 1 pound and 2 pound coins. Notes are available in 5, 10, 20, and 50 pound denominations, and each one has its own distinct color. All British currency features an image of the Queen's head on one side. The other side typically shows a notable historic figure, landmark, or national symbol. British slang has many different names for various elements of the currency. You will almost always hear pence referred to as "pee", while 5 and 10 pound notes are often called fivers and tenners. In many areas of the UK, a 1-pound coin is called a "quid." It's thought that this term originally stemmed from the Latin phrase "quid pro quo," used to refer to the exchange of one thing for another. Legal Currencies in the U.K. While Scotland and Northern Ireland both use pound sterling, their bank notes are different from those issued in England and Wales. Confusingly, Scottish and Irish bank notes are not afforded official legal tender status in England and Wales, but can legally be used in any British country. Most shopkeepers will accept them without complaint, but they are not legally obligated to do so and can refuse your Scottish or Irish notes. It's a good idea to shop around, as exchange rates and commission fees can vary widely from one place to the next. The easiest way to find out which option is best is to ask how many pounds you will receive for y...

Nirian / Getty Images The 50 pound note has had several iterations with paper notes featuring the first governor of the Bank of England, Sir John Houblon, and later, Matthew Boulton and James Watt were depicted on it. In 2021, a polymer 50 pound note was released with a depiction of the famed codebreaker, Alan Turing. Paper notes can be used until Sept. 30, 2022 at which point only polymer notes will be accepted by businesses. Image Source / Getty Images The Bank of England issued the Adam Smith 20 pound note in March 2007. The note features Adam Smith, an 18th-century Scottish philosopher, and economist, on the back. It is the same size and predominantly the same color (purple) as the old 20 pound note that featured English composer, Sir Edward Elgar. In 2020, a new 20 pound note featuring famous British painter JMW Turner entered circulation, replacing the Adam Smith bill. It will has a self-portrait (the same 1799 painting that can be seen in London's Tate Britain museum), the ship depicted in Turner's work The Fighting Temeraire, and the artist's quote "light is therefore colour" with his signature. Old paper 20 pound notes can be used until Sept. 30, 2022. Image Source / Getty Images The Bank of England 10 pound note is commonly referred to as a "tenner." Old versions, such as the one pictured above, feature Charles Darwin, who is recognized for his theory of evolution and natural selection. The paper note with Charles Darwin was issued in 2000 and withdrawn from circ...