Bank of England £1 note
The Bank of England £1 note was the United Kingdom’s smallest Bank of England banknote. It first appeared in 1797 and was printed until 1984, with withdrawal in 1988 when it was replaced by a one-pound coin. Early notes were handwritten, on one side, and named the payee, date, and issuing cashier’s signature.
Over the years the note’s history included moments of gold exchange, changes in who printed the notes, and security updates. Printing moved to the Bank of England in 1928, and gold redemption ended in 1931. After World War II the notes were green, and from 1960 the front showed Queen Elizabeth II for the first time, while the back featured the Bank of England’s logo and later Isaac Newton (introduced in 1978; updated in 1981). In 1981 it was announced the £1 note would be replaced by a coin to suit vending machines and inflation, and the new nickel-brass £1 coin began in 1983. The note ceased to be legal tender on 11 March 1988. Some £1 notes are still found in Scotland, and the Bank of England will exchange old notes for their face value.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:50 (CET).