Face of new £50 banknote to be revealed
There is going to be a new face on Britain’s £50 notes.
At 1115am local time, the Bank of England will unveil who, out of 989 eligible names of people who have contributed to science in the UK, will adorn the polymer note.
The bank had originally received 227,299 nominations during a six-week nomination period which closed in December which led to the “short list.”
Those who have been considered span across scientific fields such as astronomy, biology, bio-technology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and medical research.
The Banknote Character Advisory Committee has been mulling over who should be on the £50 note but the final decision will be announced by BoE governor Mark Carney this morning.
Currently, the £50 note features leading figures of the industrial revolution Matthew Boulton and James Watt.
The BoE has been revamping its currency over the last few years — from the materials the notes are made from, to the pictures that adorn the currency.
In 2017, the central bank unveiled its first plastic £10 note, which featured 19th century British novelist Jane Austen. The plastic, or polymer, notes are a lot more durable than previous notes. However, they have drawn criticism from vegetarians and some religious groups for containing trace amounts of animal fats.
