The Bank of England £50 note featuring Sir John Houblon is no longer legal tender from 30 April 2014. The photo here shows the new £50 note, featuring Matthew Boulton and James Watt, introduced in 2011.
The Houblon note had been in circulation since 1994 to mark the 300th anniversary since Sir John founded the Bank. Its withdrawal means approximately 63 million £50 notes will be withdrawn, worth an estimated £3.2 billion.
The newer £50 note includes greater security features, which makes it tougher for counterfeiters to fake.
Actual note size: 156mm x 85mm (approx.)
What To Do If You Have An Old £50 Note
If you don't spend your £50 note before 1 May 2014, you can swap it in selected banks and building societies until the end of October 2014, though some will only accept deposits from their own customers. Barclays, NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and the Post Office have all agreed to exchange Houblon £50 notes for members of the public - up to the value of £200 - until 30 October 2014.
From November 2014 onwards, The Bank of England will continue to exchange Houblon £50 notes after 30 April, as it would for any other Bank of England note which no longer has legal tender status.
The Houblon note had been in circulation since 1994 to mark the 300th anniversary since Sir John founded the Bank. Its withdrawal means approximately 63 million £50 notes will be withdrawn, worth an estimated £3.2 billion.
The newer £50 note includes greater security features, which makes it tougher for counterfeiters to fake.
Actual note size: 156mm x 85mm (approx.)
What To Do If You Have An Old £50 Note
If you don't spend your £50 note before 1 May 2014, you can swap it in selected banks and building societies until the end of October 2014, though some will only accept deposits from their own customers. Barclays, NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and the Post Office have all agreed to exchange Houblon £50 notes for members of the public - up to the value of £200 - until 30 October 2014.
From November 2014 onwards, The Bank of England will continue to exchange Houblon £50 notes after 30 April, as it would for any other Bank of England note which no longer has legal tender status.