Polymer or Plastic notes

The Ulster Bank has now gone fully polymer. The last paper £50 note issued by the bank is dated 1997(P338) The front shows the Mourne Mountains and the Giant’s Causeway with the arms of the bank on the back. Crisp Uncirculated and the last of their kind.

Nepal 10 rupees nd P54 Polymer Plastic King in plumed hat at l/ Antelope factory Unc

The new plastic 5 dollars issued by New Zealand recently won the International Banknote Society Banknote of the Year (P191). It certainly is a handsome note. It features Sir Edmund Hillary, acknowledged as the first person to climb Mount Everest. Alongside his portrait is a view of Mount Cook, his favourite mountain. A Holho penguin is on the back. Uncirculated award-winning note.

Issued by The Reserve Bank of New Zealand between 1989 and 1992.

Nicaragua 10 cordobas 2014 P210 Green Printed on polymer plastic View of Port in Managua/ Traditional dancer Unc

Nicaragua 100 cordobas 2015 P219 Printed on polymer plastic Granada Cathedral / Horse and trap with drums as see through security panel. Unc

A lovely quartet of notes issued by Nicaragua and all printed on polymer plastic. Included in the set are the 10, 20, 50 and 100 cordobas values – The fronts all feature local landmarks such as the Salvador Allende Port in Managua, a church, the Handicrafts Market and Granada Cathedral. The backs are delightful with vignettes of dancers and a horse and buggy. Uncirculated.

Nicaragua 20 cordobas 2014 P211 Orange Printed on polymer plastic Church/Dancers Unc

Nicaragua 50 cordobas (2015) P211 Printed on polymer plastic Stone gateway/ Dancers Unc

Issued in 2010 for the 50th Anniversary of the Central Bank.

A quartet of notes from Nigeria, all printed on polymer plastic. It comprises the 5,10, 20 and 50 naira dated 2007 to 2009 (P32-5) The fronts feature portraits of prominent citizens whilst the backs feature traditional dancers, women carrying pots, fishermen preparing fish and a woman at a potter’s wheel. Crisp Uncirculated.

#Papua New Guinea 10 kina nd (2008) P30 Printed on plastic Parliament building/Bowl and bracelet Unc

Papua New Guinea 5 kina (2009) P29 Mauve Printed on polymer plastic Parliament building/ Carved mask and artefacts Unc

The last of this denomination to be printed on paper.

Paraguay 2000 guaranies from 2008 (P228) printed on polymer plastic Mauve, pink and green featuring Addela y Celsa Sperati wth Military parade on rear of note. In uncirculated condition.

Romania 2000 lei 1999 P111 Blue printed on polymer plastic Issued to mark Total eclipse of the sun. Planets/ Trajectory of eclipse Unc

This Royal Bank of Scotland Polymer £5 features a portrait of Nan Shepherd on the front. (P370) She was a Scottish writer best known for her memoir The Living Mountain which was based on her experience of hillwalking. The Cairngorms, with which she was very familiar, feature in the background. On the back, we find an excerpt from the poem The Choice by Sorley Maclean, two mackerel and a midge. Uncirculated.

We are delighted to be able to offer the exceptionally attractive Royal Bank of Scotland Polymer £10. It features a portrait of Mary Somerville, a 19th century science writer, astronomer and polymath. She was the joint first female member of the Royal Astronomical Society with Caroline Hirschel. She was also an advocate of women’s rights and the Oxford Somerville College (formerly all female) was named after her. Otters at play make a charming reverse.

The Royal Bank of Scotland issued a polymer £20 note earlier this year which celebrated Kate Cranston, a lady associated with Glasgow in its heyday. In 1878 she opened her first tea room and went on to establish more welcoming establishments, all known for the high standard of service, food quality and cleanliness. She was also associated with Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the art movement of the time. Her tea rooms served as art galleries and became social centres for all classes even allowing women to meet without male company in the Ladies Rooms. On the back of these charming notes two red squirrels are depicted alongside an excerpt from Cupid & Venus by Mark Alexander Boyd. Look closely and you will see a midge, scourge of Scottish summers! Uncirculated at £35.00

The Royal Bank of Scotland now issues its banknotes in polymer. We offer Crisp Uncirculated examples of the Paper £5 which these polymer issues replaced. They are dated 2010, the fronts have a portrait of Lord Ilay while a rendition of Culzean Castle is on the back. Crisp Uncirculated at £14.50 each

On 18th August 2021, the Royal Bank of Scotland released its new polymer £50. (P-New) Like the Bank of Scotland, the colour chosen was red, in line with the colour scheme of Bank of England notes south of the border. The front is dominated by a portrait of Flora Stevenson. She was born into a merchant family in Victorian times. Her legacy was as an educator who championed the rights of poorer children and young girls to be educated. She pressed for university education to be opened to women. Her first project was to run evening literacy classes from her home for messenger girls. Alongside her portrait is a view of Randolph Crescent in Edinburgh and the quote ’What Miss Stevenson did not know about education was not worth knowing’. Other illustrations include textile and dye elements. The back features two ospreys and an excerpt from the poem Nettles by N Munro, a midge and some Ladies Bedstraw, a plant using in the dyeing process. A wonderful note which comes alive under UV light! Uncirculated.

Russia 100 roubles 2018 P-New Blue and m/c Printed in polymer plastic I Issued to mark World Cup Young boy with football, goalie diving to save ball/ Football. Unc

Solomon Islands 2 dollars P23 Green printed on polymer plastic Crest/Traditional spear fishing Unc

Sri Lanka 200 rupees 1998 P114b Blue and yellow Printed on polymer plastic Issued to mark 50 years of Independence Temple and vignettes of life in Sri Lanka/ Scenes from history including trampling British flag. Unc

Taiwan 50 yuan 1999 P1990 Printed on polymer plastic Pink Banknotes / Bank building and train. Unc