Bank of England releases shortlist of animals that could feature on new banknotes
The Bank of England is inviting the public to have their say on which animals from a list of 18 should feature on the next series of banknotes.
Britons are being asked to cast their votes on which animals should be featured on the new series of banknotes.
The Bank of England has launched a consultation asking people to choose from a shortlist of mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and fish for the design of new notes entering circulation in the future.
Victoria Cleland, Bank of England chief cashier, said: “I very much hope the public will enjoy engaging in our consultation to choose the animals to feature on our next series of banknotes. The shortlisted animals demonstrate the rich variety of wildlife we have to celebrate in the UK.”
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The public have until the end of 3 July to cast their votes, which can be done via an online form available from the Bank of England’s website or by post.
Only the creatures on the 18-animal shortlist can feature on the new series of banknotes.
While members of the public have a say in which ones are picked, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey will make the final decision.
The Bank of England says this is because each denomination of banknote must be distinguishable from the other so four distinct animals must, ultimately, be chosen.
The central bank is announcing what animals will feature on the banknotes before the end of 2026.
It was confirmed animals would be the central theme of the new notes, replacing historical figures Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J.M.W. Turner and Alan Turing, in March 2026.
Which UK animals are on the shortlist?
There are three categories, and the public can select up to two examples from each category.
Mammals | Birds | Amphibians, insects and fish |
bottlenose dolphin | Atlantic puffin | Atlantic salmon |
brown hare | barn owl | basking shark |
European hedgehog | common kingfisher | buff-tailed bumblebee |
grey seal | Eurasian curlew | common frog |
pine marten | great spotted woodpecker | Emperor dragonfly |
red fox | white-tailed eagle | marsh fritillary butterfly |
Credit: Bank of England
Even once the animals for the new banknotes have been decided, it will still be a few years until they appear in your wallet.
They will start being phased in “in a number of years”, although the Bank of England hasn’t confirmed exactly when they will start entering circulation.
Why is the Bank of England changing banknotes?
The Bank of England has previously said it regularly reviews the design of banknotes, but one of the bank’s main drivers for the unveiling of new notes is to create currency which is harder to counterfeit, incorporating the latest technology.
The Bank of England said designing, testing and printing new notes is a “multi-year” process.
What other new banknotes have entered circulation in recent years?
The ascension to the throne of King Charles III in 2022 led to the production of a host of new banknotes featuring the monarch’s face.
The first of these notes started entering circulation in June 2024, in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations.
But while the new notes have the King’s face on one side instead of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the flip sides still retain their old designs.
The £5 note was circulated with former prime minister Winston Churchill on the reverse side while the £20 note was printed with the artist J. M. W. Turner on one side.
Some of these new notes have sold for thousands of pounds since being printed as they were some of the first that entered circulation.
It’s not just new notes which have entered circulation since the King’s ascension to the throne – coins bearing his face started arriving at Post Office branches in late 2022.
Wondering what to do with old banknotes? We reveal all you need to know in a separate piece.
