Today is the first day the old paper ten pound note is not legal tender for purchasing goods. Instead stores across the UK will only take the new plastic ten pound note that features Jane Austen.
Darwin who featured on the old ten pound since 1992, is an English naturalist and biologist and profoundly known for his idea of evolution.
Jane Austen is famously known for writing novels such as Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Mansfield Park.
The note has been printed with a quote from Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice which says: “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading”. The choice to feature Jane Austen is to celebrate the 200th anniversary of her death in July 1817. The note was released in September 2017, which gave the UK 6 months to get rid of their old notes.
Today is the last day you can use your paper £10 notes. From midnight, only the #NewTenPoundNote will be accepted. pic.twitter.com/wVdUVdxyym
— Bank of England (@bankofengland) March 1, 2018
Although the use of famous figures like Austen celebrates strong and successful women, there has been controversy about the ethics and environmental impacts of plastic notes.
The new notes contain tallow (animal fat), because palm oil is too costly. This caused some controversy with activists because this meant it wasn’t vegan.
There are some concernes that people won’t be happy with the change of currency, but Nahid Akhter Din, Cheltenham’s H&M Store Manager, said that she isn’t worried about the ban on the old tenner because customers are often understanding – especially as they have had time to become accustomed to the new note.
She also said that the store’s purchases are 80% paid for by card so this won’t be an issue for the store.
To say goodbye to the ten pound note that has been around for seventeen years, here is some history on the note:
