The Story of English Banknotes - by Andrew Morten (Paperback)

About the Book

A history of the Bank of England through the many different banknotes that have been issued during its existence.

Book Synopsis

The humble banknote has been around in one form or another for over 300 years, and no one would deny that during that time they have been an indispensable part of trade, commerce and the growth of the UK economy. The Bank of England came into existence to oversee their creation and distribution and has played a critical role in steering the country through good times, bad times and the occasional economic crisis ever since. The earliest notes were little more than handwritten bills, rarely seen as they could be worth more than a year's wages. But historical events soon required more widespread issue of smaller denominations to raise money for the Crown. But, as banknotes have always attracted forgers, notes had to be frequently updated to stay ahead of the counterfeiters. From simple paper designs in the nineteenth century to modern, holographic polymer notes, this book explores the history of the Bank of England through the many different banknotes that have been issued during its existence.

About the Author

Andrew Morten has had a lifelong interest in computers after teaching himself how to program at the age of 15. This led to a career in electronics and software design, and he worked on a number of projects, both in the commercial and defense sectors, at several large engineering companies such as Plessey, Racal and GE.