Twenty pounds
(United Kingdom)
Value£20 sterling
Width139 mm
Height73 mm
Security featuresRaised print, metallic thread, watermark, microlettering, see-through registration device, UV feature
Material usedPolymer
Years of printing1727–present
2020–present (current design)
Obverse
DesignCatherine Cranston
Design date2020
Reverse
DesignRed Squirrels
Design date2020

The Royal Bank of Scotland £20 note is a sterling banknote. It is the third largest denomination of banknote issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland. The current polymer note, first issued in 2020, bears the image of Catherine Cranston on the obverse and a vignette depicting a pair of Red Squirrels on the reverse.

History

The Royal Bank of Scotland began issuing £20 notes in 1727, the same year as the bank's founding. Early banknotes were monochrome, and printed on one side only. The issuing of banknotes by Scottish banks was regulated by the Banknote (Scotland) Act 1845 until it was superseded by the Banking Act 2009.[1] Though strictly not legal tender in Scotland, Scottish banknotes are nevertheless legal currency and are generally accepted throughout the United Kingdom. Scottish banknotes are fully backed such that holders have the same level of protection as those holding genuine Bank of England notes.[2] The £20 note is currently the third largest denomination of banknote issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland.[3]

The Ilay series of banknotes was first issued in 1987.[4] These banknotes feature a portrait of Lord Ilay, first governor of the bank, on the front. Lord Ilay's image is also used as a watermark on the notes. Other design elements include the bank's coat of arms and logo, the facade of Dundas House, the bank's headquarters in Edinburgh, and a pattern representing the ceiling of the headquarters' banking hall. All of the Ilay series notes feature a castle on the back. On the reverse of the £20 note is an image of Brodick Castle.[5]

On 5 March 2020,[6] a new polymer £20 note was introduced showing the tea room entrepreneur Catherine Cranston in place of Lord Ilay.[7]

Designs

Note First issued Colour Size Design Additional information
Ilay1987Purple14 × 80 mmFront: Lord Ilay; Back: Brodick Castle
Polymer5 March 2020Purple139 × 73 mmFront: Catherine Cranston; Back: Red Squirrels

Information taken from The Committee of Scottish Bankers website.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Banknote History". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Scottish and Northern Ireland Banknotes Factsheet" (PDF). Association of Commercial Banknote Issuers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Current Banknotes : Royal Bank of Scotland". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Banknotes: 8 things you might not know". The Royal Bank of Scotland. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Banknote Design Features : The Royal Bank of Scotland". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Polymer Banknotes". The Committee of Scottish Bankers. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "New RBS bank notes to feature Nan Shepherd and Mary Somerville". The Scotsman. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
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