Great Britain Banknotes: History, Notable Notes & Collecting Guide
The pound sterling has one of the longest continuous histories of any currency, and Bank of England paper money tells that story across three centuries, from large white notes to today's polymer series.
Last updated: July 2026
British pound sterling is the official currency of the United Kingdom, and its paper money is collectible because it spans one of the longest and best-documented monetary histories in the world. Bank of England notes run from handwritten seventeenth-century promises to pay, through the large white notes and wartime Treasury issues, to the pictorial series that put Shakespeare and Churchill on paper, and finally to today's polymer notes. That unbroken timeline, anchored by a central bank founded in 1694, gives collectors a deep and coherent country to build around.
What is the history of the pound and the Bank of England?
The pound is one of the oldest currencies in the world, and the Bank of England has issued its notes since 1694, giving British paper money more than three centuries of continuous history.
Sterling traces back more than 1,200 years to the silver pennies of Anglo-Saxon England, according to the Royal Mint, and it is widely regarded as one of the oldest currencies still in use. The pound symbol, £, comes from the letter L for the Latin word libra, meaning a pound weight of silver. For most of its history the pound was divided into 20 shillings of 12 pence each, a system that lasted until decimalisation on 15 February 1971, when the pound was split into 100 new pence.
The Bank of England was founded in 1694 and began issuing notes almost immediately. The earliest were handwritten and only partly printed, redeemable promises to pay the bearer in gold. Small-denomination paper arrived with the First World War, when the Treasury issued 10-shilling and £1 notes in 1914 that collectors know as Bradbury notes, after the signature of John Bradbury. In 1928 the Bank of England took over the £1 and 10-shilling denominations and issued its first colour, two-sided designs featuring Britannia.
Which Great Britain banknotes are most collectible?
The most collectible British notes are the historic Bank of England series: the large white notes, the wartime Bradbury issues, and the pictorial and polymer designs that trace the modern monarchy on paper.
British paper money divides neatly into eras, and most collectors organise their sets around these landmark series. The table below is a general guide to the periods, not a price list, since condition and rarity drive value within each one.
| Era / series | Period | What defines it | Why collectors want it |
|---|---|---|---|
| White notes | 1700s to 1950s | Black print on one side of plain white paper | Large format and iconic; the white fiver is a classic |
| Bradbury Treasury notes | 1914 to 1928 | Government 10-shilling and £1 notes of the First World War | The first small British notes, with a strong wartime story |
| Series A (Britannia) | From 1928 | Bank takes over £1 and 10s in colour, two-sided | Marks the Bank issuing everyday small notes |
| Series C | From 1960 | First Bank of England note to carry the monarch's portrait | Debut of the Queen Elizabeth II portrait |
| Series D (pictorial) | From 1970 | First historical figures on the reverse, led by Shakespeare | Start of the beloved pictorial tradition |
| Polymer series | From 2016 | Churchill £5, Austen £10, Turner £20, Turing £50 | Britain's first polymer notes, modern and secure |
| King Charles III | From 2024 | New monarch portrait, in circulation from June 2024 | The newest chapter, with first-issue interest |
Within any series, collectors pay close attention to condition, early serial-number prefixes, replacement notes, and printing errors. A note in uncirculated condition or with a very low serial number is far more desirable than a well-worn example of the same design.
How do you start collecting Great Britain banknotes?
Pick an era that appeals to you, decide whether you want raw or certified notes, and buy from a source-first dealer that authenticates every note. British notes suit both small themed sets and serious long-term collections.
Because the pound has such a long, well-catalogued history, beginners benefit from choosing a lane. You might collect one denomination across the reigns, a single series such as the polymer notes, or a run of chief cashier signatures. If you are new to the hobby, our guide on how to collect world banknotes walks through choosing a focus and making a safe first purchase.
Condition is most of a note's value, so learn the grading ladder early. Higher-value British notes are often independently graded by PMG or PCGS on a 1 to 70 scale, and our banknote grading guide explains what those grades mean and how they affect price. Whatever you buy, store it in archival, acid-free holders and handle it by the edges; our guide to storing banknotes covers materials that preserve value.
Where can you buy Great Britain banknotes?
Buy Great Britain notes from an established, source-first dealer that authenticates every note, offers independent grading on higher-value pieces, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
The safest way to build a British collection is to choose where you buy as carefully as what you buy. Look for a dealer that sources notes directly from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors rather than reselling anonymous lots, and that stands behind each note in writing.
Watch for these warning signs. Prices far below every other seller, no stated provenance or sourcing, no returns accepted, and pressure to buy quickly. Genuine dealers are transparent about where a note came from and how it is authenticated.
Every note in Planet Banknote's Great Britain banknotes collection is inspected through the Planet Banknote Verified process and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity, so you can start or extend a British set with confidence.
Related guides
- How to Collect World Banknotes: choosing a focus, raw versus graded notes, and a safe first purchase.
- Banknote Grading Guide: how the PMG and PCGS 1 to 70 scale works, and what UNC and EPQ mean.
- How to Store Banknotes: holders, materials, and conditions that protect condition and value.
Frequently asked questions
What currency does Great Britain use?
Great Britain uses the pound sterling, symbol £, which is the official currency of the United Kingdom. One pound is divided into 100 pence. Sterling traces back more than 1,200 years to the silver pennies of Anglo-Saxon England, according to the Royal Mint, and is widely regarded as one of the oldest currencies still in use. Bank of England paper notes have been issued since the bank was founded in 1694.
Who issues Great Britain's banknotes?
The Bank of England, founded in 1694, is the central issuing authority for banknotes in England and Wales. In Scotland and Northern Ireland several commercial banks are also authorized to issue their own sterling notes, so collectors will find a wider range of designs than the Bank of England series alone. All of these notes are denominated in the same pound sterling.
What is a white note?
A white note is an early style of Bank of England note printed in black ink on one side of plain white paper, with no picture on the reverse. The Bank issued these large-format notes for much of its history, and the white £5 note, often called the white fiver, was printed into the 1950s. Their size, age, and simple elegance make white notes a favorite among collectors of British paper money.
When did the Bank of England switch to polymer notes?
The Bank of England began issuing polymer banknotes with the £5 note featuring Winston Churchill in September 2016. The £10 note with Jane Austen followed in 2017, the £20 note with J.M.W. Turner in 2020, and the £50 note with Alan Turing in 2021. Polymer notes are more durable and harder to counterfeit than paper. Following the accession of King Charles III, notes bearing his portrait entered circulation in June 2024.
Are older British banknotes still worth collecting?
Yes. Older British notes are among the most collectible in the hobby because of their history and craftsmanship, from Bradbury Treasury notes of the First World War to the Series D pictorial notes that first put figures like Shakespeare and the Duke of Wellington on the reverse. Condition drives value, so uncirculated examples, early prefixes, and low serial numbers command the most interest. Our banknote grading guide explains how condition is measured.
Planet Banknote is a family-owned dealership in Sarasota, Florida, founded in 2021. Every note is sourced direct from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors, inspected through our Planet Banknote Verified process, and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity. US orders ship free via USPS Priority, and every order includes a free bonus gift.