Bank of Scotland unveils new polymer ten pound note design

The new note will retain the portrait of the Scottish novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott, on the front alongside the image of The Mound, the historic head office of the Bank of Scotland.

The famous Glenfinnan Viaduct remains on reverse of the design, but now features a steam locomotive hauling a heritage tourist train.

The Edinburgh-based bank said the polymer note, designed by the banknote manufacturer, De La Rue, incorporates the enhanced security features introduced on the polymer £5 note, including the anti-counterfeit ‘window effect’ which will be built into the windows of the image of The Mound, and the ‘rolling bar’ metallic ink which changes colour as you move the note. It will also include a new ‘Tactile Emboss’ - created by a series of raised dots - which will aid the visually impaired.

Mike Moran, Director at Bank of Scotland, said: “Bank of Scotland has been issuing bank notes for more than 320 years, evolving our designs to pay homage to our heritage. The new note retains our much loved design of Sir Walter Scott with the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct pictured on the back and we’ve evolved the design by introducing the popular heritage tourist train crossing the bridge. With polymer notes being cleaner, more secure, and more durable than paper notes I’m sure our new £10 note will prove popular across Scotland.”

The Glenfinnan Viaduct carries the West Highland Railway line from Fort William to Mallaig, and was designed by W.S. Wilson and built by Sir Robert McAlpine, and was completed in 1901. Reaching a quarter of mile long and standing over 100 feet at its highest point, the Viaduct was one of the largest concrete engineering projects ever undertaken.

The locomotive pictured at the head of the train on the new £10 note is a preserved Stanier ‘Black 5’, which was designed for the London, Midland and Scottish railway and often seen on the West Highland line. A popular locomotive during the steam era, 18 examples have subsequently been preserved and often operate special trips across the UK, including the line from Fort William to Mallaig.

All of Bank of Scotland’s notes carry a portrait of Sir Walter Scott, who was a prominent figure in the campaign for Scottish Banks to retain their right to print their own banknotes in 1826.