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Five Pound Sterling polymer note

5 pound sterling polymer note

Quick links to banknotes
Current banknotes in circulation:
Ten Pound Sterling polymer note Twenty Pound Sterling polymer note Fifty Pound Sterling polymer note

Withdrawn banknotes:
Five Pound Sterling series E Ten Pound Sterling series V Twenty Pound Sterling note Fifty Pound Sterling note Fifty Pound Sterling series E

Description:
Size: 125 x 65mm
Main color: Turquoise/blue
Date of issue: 13 September 2016

5 Pound sterling polymer note obverse 5 Pound sterling polymer note reverse

In September 2016, a new polymer note was introduced, featuring the image of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and a portrait of Winston Churchill on the reverse. The new polymer fiver is cleaner, more hygienic, and stronger than the paper note, and has enhanced security features that include a see-through window and the foil Elizabeth Tower which is gold on the front of the note and silver on the back.

Security Features

Security features can help you to tell if a polymer £5 note is fake or real.

new 5 pound polymer specimen obverse new 5 pound polymer specimen reverse

(1) See-through window

five Pounds See-through window

There is a large see-through window on the note. A clearly defined portrait of the Queen is printed on the window, with the words ‘£5 Bank of England’ twice around the edge.

Around the edge of the window is a colored border, which changes from purple to green when you tilt the note. The £ symbol in the window also changes from purple to green. This effect can be seen on the front and back of the note.

Elizabeth Tower
There is a finely detailed metallic image of the Elizabeth Tower (also known as Big Ben) over the see-through window. The foil is gold on the front of the note and silver on the back. When you tilt the note, you will see a multi-colored rainbow effect.

(2) Foil patches

5 pounds banknote polymer foil patches

On the front of the note, below the see-through window, is a silver foil patch. When you tilt the note the word ‘Five’ changes to ‘Pounds’, and you will see a multi-colored rainbow effect.

On the front of the note, above the see-through window, is a silver foil patch containing an image of the coronation crown, which appears 3D. When you tilt the note, you will see a multi-colored rainbow effect.

Blenheim maze
The Marlborough maze at Blenheim Palace Estate (Churchill’s birthplace), originally designed by Mr. Adrian Fisher with assistance from Mr. Randoll Coate, is the inspiration for the green foil printed on the back of the note.

(3)Check the polymer and raised print

5 pounds polymer note itaglio printing

The £5 note is printed on polymer – a thin and flexible plastic. The words ‘Bank of England’ are printed in raised ink on the front of the note, there is also raised ink in the bottom right corner, around the number 5.

(4)Check the print quality

Five Pound sterling polymer banknote print quality

The printed lines and colors on the £5 note are sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges.

(5)Check microlettering

£5 polymer note microlettering

Using a magnifying glass, look closely at the lettering beneath the Queen’s portrait on the £5 you will see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers.

(6)Check the ultra-violet feature

£5 polymer UV feature

If you look at the front of the note under a good quality ultra-violet light, the number 5 appears in bright red and green whilst the background remains dull in contrast.

Sources:
bankofengland.co.uk
wikipedia.org