10 Fascinating Facts About UK Currency
- Name: Pound sterling (£), from Latin libra (balance/scales).
- Decimalization: 15 Feb 1971 – replaced £1 = 20s = 240d with £1 = 100p.
- Coins: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2 (8 denominations).
- Banknotes: £5, £10, £20, £50 (polymer since 2016).
- Royal Mint: Operating since 13th century; world’s oldest continuous mint.
- Polymer Notes: More durable, cleaner, harder to counterfeit.
- Legal Tender: BoE notes in England/Wales; Scottish/NI banks issue own notes (legal in their regions).
- Global Reserve: 4th most‑held reserve currency after USD, EUR, JPY.
- Design Themes: Notes feature historical figures (Churchill, Austen, Turing) and landmarks.
- Decimalization Kit: Mint issued public education packs for the 1971 switch.
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