Forums Forums National News Plastic banknotes to start in 2016

Plastic banknotes that can survive a spin in the washing machine are to be brought into circulation by the Bank of England in 2016.

The Bank argues that the polymer notes stay cleaner and are more secure than cotton paper notes, which have been used for more than 100 years.

The £5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill will be the first plastic banknote.

More than 20 countries around the world have adopted polymer banknotes.

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They take a little time to get used to. But now I like them. We have them in 5's, 10's and 20's

will they still be produced at the Royal Mints or is that another load of jobs lost

The Royal Mint "mint" coins.
Royal Mint

Banknotes for many years have been printed by secure printing company De La Rue plc.
Banknote Production

For many years the Isle of Man has had plastic notes. I've got a 50p plastic note from when they went "decimal". Interestingly, they have recently announced that they are scrapping the plastic £1 note.

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle...tes-to-stop-being-legal-tender-1-5910322

From reading the above, it looks like they had a plastic 10 bob note too !

we have plastic bank bills here in Australia in the following $5,10,20,50,100. the best thing about them if you wash them they don't get destroyed like paper bills, Australia also had $1 & $2 bills but they where discontinued with the introduction of the $1& $2 coins in 1984.

Info on the Australian Plastic Bank Notes

As there are obviously more hard wearing than paper notes they probably will never become collectible as the old notes, so it's something else lost to the dreaded plastic.

just hope i dont fall asleep in front of the fire and end up with them melted together !