Plastic Currency

I went to the cash machine at lunchtime, and was provided with my first new £20 bank notes. They will soon be everywhere and I will be feeling nostalgic for the old paper notes.

They are made of a polymer and include all sorts of complex detail to aid security.

I thought I had better check on the legalities around reproducing bank notes. This complies.

More than that, the Bank of England has gone into partnership with Snapchat. I’ve tried it. Download the app and filter, point the phone at the banknote, and hey presto the image of JW Turner fades away and is replaced by a full colour reproduction of one of his most famous paintings “The Fighting Temeraire” (extra). Let’s hope tomorrow’s Budget is a bit more serious.