Banknotes of Northern Ireland Recent Developments and News

The banknotes of Northern Ireland have seen some exciting developments in recent years. The Ulster Bank issued a new £10 note featuring the Giant's Causeway in 2017.

The Royal Bank of Scotland's £5 note, featuring the Giant's Causeway, was also released in 2017. It's a beautiful note, and I've seen it in circulation.

In 2019, the Bank of Ireland issued a new £10 note with a design that pays tribute to the Titanic Belfast attraction.

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Banknote issues in Northern Ireland have a complex history. The country was partitioned into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in 1921, and the right to issue banknotes was retained by some Joint Stock Commercial Banks.

The Bank of Ireland was the first to issue paper money in Ireland, starting in 1783. Other banks followed, and by 1929, six banks were issuing their own notes in Northern Ireland: Bank of Ireland, National Bank, Ulster Bank, Northern Bank, Provincial Bank of Ireland, and Belfast Banking Company.

These notes were never legal tender, except during World War Two when Legal Tender status was granted as an emergency measure. The status was revoked after the war.

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There are two main types of Northern Ireland banknotes: Older Design Northern Ireland Banknotes and Modern Smaller Sized Banknotes. The Older Design Northern Ireland Banknotes were generally larger and based on the pre-1929 designs.

The Older Design Northern Ireland Banknotes were in circulation from 1929 to around 1967. This is a significant period in Northern Ireland's history, and the banknotes from this era are highly collectible.

The Modern Smaller Sized Banknotes were introduced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, featuring the latest security features of the time. These banknotes were produced by all of the banks in Northern Ireland.

Here's a breakdown of the types of banknotes issued by each bank in Northern Ireland:

The types of banknotes issued by each bank varied significantly over the years, with some banks issuing multiple series of notes with different denominations and designs.

Irish banks have launched a new £20 banknote on De La Rue's Safeguard substrate. This is a significant development in the world of banknote issues.

The new £20 note features advanced security features to prevent counterfeiting. These features include a hologram foil strip and a 3D security thread.

The use of De La Rue's Safeguard substrate provides an additional layer of security against counterfeiting. This is especially important in regions with high levels of counterfeiting activity.

The new £20 note is designed to be easily recognizable and verifiable. It features a prominent portrait of the relevant historical figure and a unique serial number.

De La Rue's Safeguard substrate is a high-tech material that makes it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate. This provides an added layer of security for users of the new £20 note.

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In 2022, Ulster Bank introduced a new polymer £50 note, which entered circulation on June 15th of that year.

The Ulster Bank £50 note is the most recent addition to the polymer note series in Northern Ireland.

Danske Bank is replacing its paper notes with polymer notes, with the £10 and £20 denominations already in circulation.

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Bank of Ireland is also switching to polymer notes, with the £5, £10, and £20 denominations available.

First Trust Bank ceased issuing banknotes in 2020 and withdrew its notes from circulation on June 30th, 2022.

You can exchange old First Trust Bank notes, as well as those of its previous issues, for current issue Bank of England notes without a time limit at the bank's branches.

The Bank of Ireland considers its new polymer note designs to be part of its previous Bushmills series, but collectors might view them as a new series.

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