20 Pounds
Great Britain · Bank of England
The King Charles III £20 note was unveiled on 20 December 2022 and entered circulation on 5 June 2024, replacing the Queen Elizabeth II version that had itself entered circulation in February 2020. The reverse design is retained in full: it shows a c.1799 self-portrait of J.M.W. Turner, a reproduction of his iconic painting The Fighting Temeraire (depicting HMS Temeraire being towed to its last berth after the Battle of Trafalgar), Turner's lecture quote 'Light is therefore colour', and a facsimile of his signature from his will. A round purple foil patch contains the letter 'T' in honour of Turner.
Highlights
ReasonIssued to update the monarch's portrait on the Bank of England's highest-circulation polymer note following the accession of Charles III, with Turner's artistically significant reverse unchanged.
DesignKing Charles III portrait on the obverse; J.M.W. Turner self-portrait, The Fighting Temeraire painting, and a Turner lecture quote on the reverse.
Security featuresLarge transparent see-through window with King Charles III cameo portrait, gold-and-blue foil over the window, holographic foil strip alternating 'Twenty' and 'Pounds', smaller second window in the lower corner, round purple 'T' foil patch, and tactile raised dots for the visually impaired.
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