New King Charles III banknotes released – and royal fans rush to get hands on them
Queen Elizabeth II has been the face of British currency for decades, but today (June 5) signals a new era, with King Charles III now the face of new banknotes.
Royal enthusiasts have been eagerly lining up to acquire the new King Charles banknotes, signalling the dawn of a new era.
For many years, Queen Elizabeth II's portrait has adorned British currency and stamps, a testament to her tenure as the nation's longest-serving sovereign. However, her passing in 2022 prompted the Bank of England to commence the issuance of King Charles III banknotes, which have officially entered circulation today (June 5).
In line with tradition, the visage of His Majesty graces the £5, £10, £20, and £50 polymer notes. These will be printed solely to replace worn-out notes, in an effort to minimise costs and environmental repercussions.
Nonetheless, the release has incited a wave of enthusiasm among fans, with some forming queues outside the Bank of England from early morning, eager to secure some of the first-edition notes. An excited fan shared their experience on X, previously known as Twitter, stating (@ianvisits): "That was actually silly good fun.
"Once the doors open, there's the usual security checks and then straight into the bank counter where they'll swap your old banknotes for equivalent new ones. The queue is quite short (at the moment) so if you fancy doing something a bit different, they will swap up to £300 of QEII banknotes for CRIII equivalents for the next five days."
That was actually silly good fun.
— ianVisits (@ianvisits) June 5, 2024
Once the doors open, theres the usual security checks and then straight into the bank counter where they'll swap your old banknotes for equivalent new ones.
The queue is quite short (at the moment) so if you fancy doing something a bit… pic.twitter.com/qvkK7g2EVz
The X user relished his experience but hinted those looking to make a quick profit by selling on eBay might be in for a letdown. The new notes he obtained weren't of the coveted low serial numbers, though it seems some could go under the hammer at Spink and Son soon.
He remarked: "Just bring the notes and proof ID. And you get to see a small bit of the grand interior of the Bank of England as well."
Nestled on Threadneedle Street, the Bank of England's walk-in service is scheduled from June 5 to June 11 and welcomes both UK and non-UK residents. For those not keen on visiting, Royal enthusiasts have the option to snag new notes via post through the bank's exchange service, active from June 5 to June 30.
To partake, one must complete an application form and send off their old notes. Be advised, the replacement currency will only be dispatched to a UK address.
