Images of kings and queens have been appearing on Britain's coins for around 1500 years, but it was only in 1960 that Queen Elizabeth II became the first monarch to appear on a British note.
On 17th March 1960, the Bank England issued its news £1 note which was the first to have the image of the monarch.
To celebrate the occasion, a new exhibition, called A Decoration and a Safeguard, has been set up at the bank's museum.
Elizabeth II has appeared on Britain's coins and stamps since 1952, the year she came to the Throne.
Queen Elizabeth II's portrait is probably the most reproduced image not only of modern times but probably in the history of the world.
Bank marks 50 years of the Queen's portrait
It's the 50th anniversary of the Queen's portrait first appearing on banknotes.
17 Mar 2010
The Telegraph
Bank of England marks 50 years of the Queen's portrait Photo: PA
The Bank of England issued a new £1 note on March 17 1960 which was the first to carry an image of the monarch.
A new exhibition, A Decoration and a Safeguard, will look back on the past 50 years when it opens at the bank's museum in London.
Curator John Keyworth said: "Kings and queens have been depicted on Britain's coinage since Anglo-Saxon times but it was not until 1960 that the monarch first appeared on a Bank of England note.
"There were two main reasons to introduce the royal portrait.
"Firstly, the Bank had been nationalised in 1946, and by portraying the monarch on its notes the institution recognised that it was now publicly owned.
"Secondly, the highly specialised art of the hand-engraved portrait added a formidable anti-forgery feature.
"Taking into account its appearance on postage stamps and coins since 1952 and on Bank of England notes since 1960, the Queen's portrait is probably the most reproduced image in the history of the world."
The Bank of England was founded in 1694 and, despite its name, is the central bank for the whole of the United Kingdom. It is the model on which most modern, large central banks in the world have been based.
In 1734, the Bank moved to its present location on London's Threadneedle Street. The street hasn't always had that name. In the 18th Century it was known as Gropec**t Lane (the 18th century British weren't exactly big on decorum), due to the high number of prostitutes which frequented the street.
The road is in the City of London, leading from an intersection with Poultry, Cornhill, King William Street and Lombard Street, to Bishopsgate.
Notes vary throughout the UK, but coins are all the same. The £1 note was abolished in England & Wales in 1988. It was also abolished in Northern Ireland, which has the same coins but different notes than England & Wales, in 1984. But Scotland, which also has the same coins but differerent notes than England & Wales and Northern Ireland, still has the £1 note.
Five different portraits of the Queen have been used on banknotes since 1960.
These were by Robert Austin (1960), Reynolds Stone (1963), Harry Ecclestone (1970 and 1971) and Roger Withington (1990).
Letters and material relating to the five portraits will be on display at the exhibition which will also feature previously unseen sketches and artwork from the bank's collection including rejected designs and early unissued banknotes.
The Bank of England is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Queen's first appearance on British banknotes. Its exhibition, entitled A Decoration and a Safeguard, features the various notes on which the Monarch has appeared and some of the artists' sketches, including Robert Austin's 1960 £1, pictured.
1970 £20 featuring first appearance of portrait by Harry Ecclestone
1960 £1 featuring first appearance of portrait by Roger Austin
1963 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Reynolds Stone
1971 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Harry Ecclestone
1990 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Roger Withington
Sketch for 1963 £5 note by Reynolds Stone
Master drawing for the watermark in the 1990 (George Stephenson) £5 note designed by Roger Withington
1970 Harry Ecclestone Portrait
Portrait of the Queen for the 1960 £1 note by Robert Austin
1971 Harry Ecclestone Portrait
:: A Decoration and a Safeguard - The Portrait of the Monarch on Bank of England Notes will be at the Bank of England Museum, Bartholomew Lane, just off Threadneedle Street, London from today until June 4. Admission is free.
telegraph.co.uk
On 17th March 1960, the Bank England issued its news £1 note which was the first to have the image of the monarch.
To celebrate the occasion, a new exhibition, called A Decoration and a Safeguard, has been set up at the bank's museum.
Elizabeth II has appeared on Britain's coins and stamps since 1952, the year she came to the Throne.
Queen Elizabeth II's portrait is probably the most reproduced image not only of modern times but probably in the history of the world.
Bank marks 50 years of the Queen's portrait
It's the 50th anniversary of the Queen's portrait first appearing on banknotes.
17 Mar 2010
The Telegraph
Bank of England marks 50 years of the Queen's portrait Photo: PA
The Bank of England issued a new £1 note on March 17 1960 which was the first to carry an image of the monarch.
A new exhibition, A Decoration and a Safeguard, will look back on the past 50 years when it opens at the bank's museum in London.
Curator John Keyworth said: "Kings and queens have been depicted on Britain's coinage since Anglo-Saxon times but it was not until 1960 that the monarch first appeared on a Bank of England note.
"There were two main reasons to introduce the royal portrait.
"Firstly, the Bank had been nationalised in 1946, and by portraying the monarch on its notes the institution recognised that it was now publicly owned.
"Secondly, the highly specialised art of the hand-engraved portrait added a formidable anti-forgery feature.
"Taking into account its appearance on postage stamps and coins since 1952 and on Bank of England notes since 1960, the Queen's portrait is probably the most reproduced image in the history of the world."
The Bank of England was founded in 1694 and, despite its name, is the central bank for the whole of the United Kingdom. It is the model on which most modern, large central banks in the world have been based.
In 1734, the Bank moved to its present location on London's Threadneedle Street. The street hasn't always had that name. In the 18th Century it was known as Gropec**t Lane (the 18th century British weren't exactly big on decorum), due to the high number of prostitutes which frequented the street.
The road is in the City of London, leading from an intersection with Poultry, Cornhill, King William Street and Lombard Street, to Bishopsgate.
Notes vary throughout the UK, but coins are all the same. The £1 note was abolished in England & Wales in 1988. It was also abolished in Northern Ireland, which has the same coins but different notes than England & Wales, in 1984. But Scotland, which also has the same coins but differerent notes than England & Wales and Northern Ireland, still has the £1 note.
Five different portraits of the Queen have been used on banknotes since 1960.
These were by Robert Austin (1960), Reynolds Stone (1963), Harry Ecclestone (1970 and 1971) and Roger Withington (1990).
Letters and material relating to the five portraits will be on display at the exhibition which will also feature previously unseen sketches and artwork from the bank's collection including rejected designs and early unissued banknotes.
1970 £20 featuring first appearance of portrait by Harry Ecclestone
1960 £1 featuring first appearance of portrait by Roger Austin
1963 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Reynolds Stone
1971 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Harry Ecclestone
1990 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Roger Withington
Sketch for 1963 £5 note by Reynolds Stone
Master drawing for the watermark in the 1990 (George Stephenson) £5 note designed by Roger Withington
1970 Harry Ecclestone Portrait
Portrait of the Queen for the 1960 £1 note by Robert Austin
1971 Harry Ecclestone Portrait
:: A Decoration and a Safeguard - The Portrait of the Monarch on Bank of England Notes will be at the Bank of England Museum, Bartholomew Lane, just off Threadneedle Street, London from today until June 4. Admission is free.
telegraph.co.uk
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