[Twenty-pound banknote with images of Queen Elizabeth II and William Shakespeare]

Folger bibliographic ID: 346264
Folger call number: Sh.Misc. 2301
Folger holdings ID: 497047
Accession Number: 269541

Twenty-pound banknote, issued by the Bank of England, as part of Series D of pictorial twenty-pound banknotes. The front features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, an illustration of St. George fighting the dragon, the Bank of England logo (Britannia seated next to a pile of coins and a shield, holding a spear and a laurel or olive branch), and the signature of John Page, Chief Cashier. The back features an illustration of the Shakespeare memorial statue located in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner, and an illustration of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.

General notes

The twenty-pound banknote featuring William Shakespeare was designed by Harry Eccleston. It was first issued on 9 July 1970, last issued on 1991, and formally withdrawn on 19 March 1993 (at which point it ceased to be legal tender). A windowed security thread was added starting 15 November 1984. A solid security thread and the signature of John Page, Chief Cashier of the Bank of England from 1970-1980, indicate that this note was produced sometime between 1970 and 1980

Item information about Folger Sh.Misc. 2301

Housed in Mylar sleeve and envelope

Alternate titles: £20, Twenty pounds, 20 pounds

Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1926- Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Romeo and Juliet George, Saint, -303

depiction: Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1926-
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
depiction: George, Saint, -303
designer: Eccleston, H. N. (Harry Norman), 1923-2010
publisher: Bank of England
printer: Bank of England. Printing Works