The Plastic Fiver Has Been Launched
Have you heard of the new plastic £5 note?
The new plastic £5 note is being launched today!
Today, the new durable fiver is coming to our homes in England and Wales. However, most people will have to wait up to a week to get their hands on one.
The new £5 note is made from polymer and is much more durable than the old fiver.
"The use of polymer means it can better withstand being repeatedly folded into wallets or scrunched up inside pockets, and can also survive a spin in the washing machine," says the governer of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.
The Bank of England have released a video, showing us all the different angles of the new fiver.
The video shows an image of Winston Churchill on the back of the note, as well as the traditional image of the Queen.
Other new features of the fiver include:
- a transparent window, making the note harder to forge - raised dots, for blind or partially-sighted people
ATMs in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Hull and Cardiff will be among the first to dispense the notes, and most bank branches are expected to have them within about a week.
We can't wait to test one out in the washing machine! Might leave out the softener, though.