20 Pounds

The Bank of England issued the 20 Pounds polymer banknote dated 2023, continuing the Turner series with the introduction of King Charles III's portrait. Banknotes bearing King Charles III's portrait officially entered circulation on June 5, 2024, co-circulating with existing Queen Elizabeth II designs. The obverse features King Charles III's portrait alongside the denomination and the Bank of England name. The reverse celebrates the landscape artist J.M.W. Turner and features his famous work The Fighting Temeraire, along with Turner's quote Light is therefore colour from his 1818 Royal Academy lecture.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) is widely regarded as one of England's greatest painters, celebrated for his expressive colorization and imaginative landscapes. The Fighting Temeraire (1839), depicting the warship that served at the Battle of Trafalgar being towed to its final berth, was voted the greatest painting in Britain in a public poll. Turner's placement on the 20 Pounds note since 2020 reflects the Bank of England's commitment to celebrating British cultural heritage through its currency.

The polymer substrate, introduced for the 20 Pounds note in 2020, offers durability approximately 2.5 times greater than paper notes and incorporates significantly more advanced security features. The note measures 139 mm x 73 mm and is recognized as a significant milestone in British cultural currency design, honoring both the new monarch and one of Britain's greatest artistic legacies.