In addition to the portrait and design, each Bank of England note has a range of security features to prevent counterfeiting. Some of the security features include:

A transparent window: Each note has a clear window containing a hologram of the denomination, which can be seen from both sides of the note.

Raised print: There is raised print on the words and numbers on the front of the note, which can be felt with the fingers.

Micro lettering: Each note has small letters and numbers, which can only be read with a magnifying glass.

UV feature: Each note has a feature that is only visible under ultraviolet light.

These security features make it extremely difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce Bank of England notes.

Quick Check

To quickly check the polymer banknotes use these two tests:

1. Hologram image change: Tilt the note side by side to view the hologram change from ‘note value’ to the word ‘pounds’.
2. See-through window: In the window check the foil image is silver on the back, but front £5 & £10 is gold, £20 is gold and blue, and £50 is gold and green.
   For £20 & £50 see the second window at the bottom right.

These are the latest prescribed ways by the Bank of England for the general public to check their polymer banknote authenticity.

£5 Sir Winston Churchill

• A portrait of the Queen is printed on the see-through window with ‘£5 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.
• When you tilt the note, a coloured border around the edge of the see-through window will change from purple to green. The ‘£’ symbol in the window changes from purple to green.
• A silver foil patch contains a 3D image of the coronation crown. This is above the see-through window on the front of the note.
• On the front of the £5 note, you can feel the raised print on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner, around the number ‘5’.
• The printed lines and colours on the note are sharp and clear, with no smudges or blurred edges. Use a magnifying glass, to see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers below the Queen’s portrait.
• Under a good-quality ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet number ‘5’ appears in bright red and green on the front of the note, against a duller background.
• A circular green foil patch contains the word ‘BLENHEIM’ on the back of the note, directly behind the silver crown on the front.

£10 Jane Austen

• A portrait of the Queen is printed on the window with ‘£10 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.
• When you tilt the £10 polymer note, a coloured quill at the side of the see-through window will change from purple to orange.
• A silver foil patch contains a 3D image of the coronation crown above the see-through window on the front of the note.
• On the front of the £10 polymer note, you can feel the raised print on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner, around the number ‘10’.
• The printed lines and colours on the note are sharp and clear, with no smudges or blurred edges. Use a magnifying glass to see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers below the Queen’s portrait.
• Under a good-quality ultraviolet light, the number ‘10’ appears in bright red and green on the front of the note, against a duller background.
• A book-shaped, copper foil patch contains the letters ‘JA’ on the back of the note, directly behind the silver crown on the front.

£20 JMW Turner

• A portrait of the Queen is printed on the see-through window with ‘£20 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.
• A silver foil patch contains a 3D image of the coronation crown above the main see-through window on the front of the note.
• On the front of the £20 polymer note, you can feel the raised print on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner, over the smaller window
• The printed lines and colours on the note are sharp and clear, with no smudges or blurred edges. use a magnifying glass to see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers below the Queen’s portrait.
• Under a good-quality ultraviolet light, the number ‘20’ appears in bright red and green on the front of the note, against a duller background.
• A round, purple foil patch contains the letter ‘T’. You will find this on the back of the note, directly behind the silver crown on the front.

£50 Alan Turing

• A portrait of the Queen is printed on the see-through window with ‘£50 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.
• A silver foil patch contains a 3D image of the coronation crown above the main see-through window on the front of the note.
• On the front of the note, you can feel the raised print on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner, over the smaller window
• The printed lines and colours on the note are sharp and clear, with no smudges or blurred edges. Use a magnifying glass, to see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers below the Queen’s portrait.
• Under a good-quality ultraviolet light, the number ‘50’ appears in bright red and green on the front of the note, against a duller background.
• A metallic, red foil patch contains the letters ‘AT’ on the back of the note, directly behind the silver crown on the front.