The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has unveiled the designs of the new £5 and £10 polymer banknotes which are to begin circulating in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Banknote images courtesy of the Royal Bank of Scotland

 The notes are printed on De La Rue’s Safeguard® polymer substrate and includes their SPARK® Orbital™ optically variable ink feature, shown in the note’s clear window.

 The Royal Bank of Scotland held a public consultation throughout Scotland via workshops, online communities and polling surveys. ‘The Fabric of Nature’ was the resulting theme for the design elements of the banknotes, incorporating elements of natural colour and light.

The £5 pound note will feature Scottish novelist and poet Nan Shepherd, and scientist Mary Somerville has been chosen to feature on the £10 banknotes to be issued next year.

Chair of the RBS Scotland Board, Malcolm Buchanan commented:

“I am delighted that we have been able to involve the public throughout this process; from the workshops and surveys that helped to decide on the theme, right through to the public vote that resulted in Mary Somerville being chosen to feature on the £10 note.”

Read Royal Bank of Scotland’s press release.

Read De La Rue’s press release.