Merlyn Lowther (1999-2003)

First prefix AA01 Elgar issued in 1999 with signature of Merlyn Lowther as Chief Cashier

The Bank of England issued the £10 note with Charles Darwin on the back in November 2000 while Merlyn Lowther was Chief Cashier. The first notes which rolled off the presses had an error in the Copyright panel with an extra ‘The’ appearing in the inscription. So many millions were printed before the bank realised its mistake and corrected the error that this is now regarded as a separate variety. We can offer Crisp Uncirculated versions of the Corrected Lowther Darwin £10. (B390) They are distinguished from the previous issue by the removal of the extra word ‘The’ in the copyright legend. These paper £10 notes, disappeared from circulation are now over 17 years old and increasingly difficult to find in high grade. Crisp Uncirculated Lowther Corrected £10 note.

When this Lowther £10 note was issued in November 2000, it took a bit of time before it was realised there was a mistake in the wording of the Copyright details around the watermark area. Somehow an extra THE had slipped in. So many had been printed before the error was noticed that is now regarded as a variety (B388) Eventually the error was corrected. We are delighted to be able to offer some of the first notes all with the prefix AA01. Uncirculated and always an important note!

Merlyn Lowther £20 Mauve Historical Queen/ Elgar B386 Unc

In March 2002, the Bank of England introduced a new design for the £5 note with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the front and Elizabeth Fry, prison reformer, on the back. (B393) Within days, the Bank suspended the issue. Reports were coming in that the serial numbers could be easily rubbed off. The problem was addressed and in August 2002 the issue was resumed. We are offering Crisp Uncirculated examples of the very first £5 notes from this series all with the prefix HA01 and intact. Increasingly difficult to find in Uncirculated!

Merlyn Lowther £5 Blue Historical B393 Queen Eliz II/Elizabeth Fry Unc

Bank of England, Merlyn Lowther Chief Cashier (1999-2003) Millennium £10

In November 2003 the George Stephenson £5 disappeared from circulation. It had been introduced in 1990 as the first in the new ‘Historical’ series of banknotes. In those 13 years of issues it underwent a few design changes and was issued under three different Chief Cashiers. Here we offer uncirculated examples of the George Stephenson £5 signed by Merlyn Lowther as Chief Cashier (B380). The Stephenson £5 was coloured blue with a large mature portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the front. On the back a portrait of George Stephenson alongside an illustration of the famous “Rocket” locomotive.