The Bank of England changes banknotes' designs from time to time, featuring prominent citizens from around the United Kingdom. This time, it's the turn of the £50 note which will now feature computer scientist Alan Turing ...
Many people have heard that Alan Turing was famous for being a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and cracked Enigma, giving the Allied war effort a major advantage over the Axis powers. Fewer people realise that he is considered the father of the modern computer in the world of IT.
Discarded by the Government after the war, he committed suicide following a scandal surrounding his sexuality. Benedict Cumberbatch recently portrayed him in the film, The Imitation Game. In more recent times, he received a posthumous pardon from the Queen.
These new polymer £50 notes have advanced security, making them the most secure banknotes the Bank of England has issued so far. Like the £20 note, these incorporate two windows and a two-colour foil. They are very difficult to counterfeit. There is even a hologram that changes depending on how you look at the banknote.
The new Alan Turing £50 banknote joins the Churchill £5, the Jane Austen £10 and the William Turner £20, which completes the set and makes all UK banknotes polymer-based!
Don't worry if you have older paper banknotes stashed away. The Bank of England will give everyone notice at around 6-months before they are no longer legal tender, so you'll have plenty of time to spend them.
Click here to read more about Alan Turing on the Bank of England website.
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