Sir Winston Churchill and other historical figures currently depicted on British banknotes are to be replaced with wild animals under plans by the Bank of England following a nationwide public consultation.
The central bank confirmed that future designs for £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes will focus on animals, birds and other aspects of the natural world, marking a significant departure from more than half a century of celebrating historical figures on the British currency.
Figures who could eventually be phased out include wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, landscape painter JMW Turner and mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing.
While the historical portraits are being phased out, the monarch will continue to appear on the back of all British banknotes.
The change follows a major public consultation by the Bank of England to determine what theme should appear on the next generation of banknotes.
According to the bank, more than 44,000 people took part in the consultation, with around 60 percent of respondents choosing nature and wildlife as their preferred topic for future notes.
Other topics considered included architecture and landmarks (56 percent), historical figures (38 percent), art, culture and sports (30 percent), innovation (23 percent) and notable milestones (19 percent).
Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier, said the redesign was primarily driven by security considerations but also offered an opportunity to showcase British identity in a different way.
“The main reason for introducing a new series of banknotes is always to increase resistance to counterfeiting,” she said. “But it also provides an opportunity to celebrate different aspects of the UK. Nature is a great choice from a banknote authenticity perspective and means we can showcase the UK’s rich and diverse wildlife.”
The Bank of England said nature-themed images offer advantages in combating counterfeiting as detailed images of animals, birds and landscapes are harder to reproduce illegally.
Future banknotes will feature the latest anti-counterfeiting technology and complex visual designs, making them more secure than existing polymer banknotes.
The redesign process is expected to take several years, with the new series expected to enter circulation in the late 2020s following extensive testing, design development and manufacturing preparation.
A panel of experts has been put together to draw up a shortlist of wildlife species that could appear on the new banknotes, before the final selection is put to a public vote.
The panel includes wildlife filmmakers and presenters Gordon Buchanan, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Nadeem Perera, as well as conservation experts such as Katy Bell from Ulster Wildlife and scientists Steve Ormerod and Dawn Scott.
The group will identify animals and natural scenes that reflect the diversity of ecosystems across the four British countries.
Perera said wildlife was closely linked to British identity and culture.
“Britain’s wildlife is not separate from our culture, it is found in our football crests, our folklore, our coastlines and our childhoods,” he said. “It seems overdue and significant to give it space for something as symbolic as our currency.”
Despite the changes to the reverse of the banknotes, the monarch will continue to appear on the obverse of all Bank of England currencies.
Royal portraits have appeared on British coins for more than 1,000 years, while Queen Elizabeth II has appeared on banknotes from the 1960s.
The bank confirmed that the new designs will maintain this long-standing tradition.
The Bank of England has previously been criticized for the lack of diversity in the numbers listed on its banknotes.
Since historical figures first became known with banknotes in 1970, none of them have represented blacks or members of ethnic minorities.
The shift to nature-based imagery avoids debates about which historical figures should be included, instead highlighting national landscapes and wildlife.
Future designs could incorporate plants, habitats and landscapes in addition to animals to create more complex and striking visual themes.
Developing a new series of banknotes is a lengthy process involving design competitions, security testing and approval from the Bank of England leadership.
The shortlist of wildlife candidates is expected to be announced later this year. Final approval rests with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.
Once the design process is complete, the banknotes will first be tested and printed before being gradually released into circulation.
If approved, Britain’s next generation of currency will represent a dramatic visual change, replacing some of the country’s most iconic historical portraits with images of nature.
