"The Pastime Classics Collection" - Bank of England Banknote Type Set (1928-Date)
20 Pounds 1971-82 ND Issue P380

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Note Details

Set Details
Note Description: Great Britain, Bank of England
£20 B318 ND (1970)
Grade: 64
Country: GBR
Note Number: GBR380a
Signatures/
Vignettes:		 - Wmk: Queen
- Sign. J.S. Fforde
Certification #: 2452020-001  
Owner: Billy Cusack
Sets Competing: "The Pastime Classics Collection" - Bank of England Banknote Type Set (1928-Date)  Score: 1522
Date Added: 5/25/2026
Research: See PMG's Census Report for this Note

Owner's Description

B318 Fforde £20


BANKNOTE DATA

* First banknote of its type

* First run prefix A01

* Series D “Pictorial” banknote

* William Shakespeare reverse

* Issued on July 9, 1970

* Withdrawn from circulation on March 19, 1993


NOTABLE ABOUT THIS NOTE

This was the first Bank of England £20 note to be produced in color.

This was the first Bank of England £20 note to feature a portrait of the reigning monarch.

As Chief Cashier, the signature of John S. Fforde appears on this banknote, despite his leaving office more than four months before this note was first issued. As a result, a signature change was quickly made after only 5 prefix runs (A01-A05) to new Chief Cashier John B. Page, making the Fforde £20 a short-lived signature type note.


SIGN OF THE TIME

This note features the signature of John S. Fforde.

Fforde was the 24th Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, serving from July 1, 1966 to February 28, 1970.


MEANWHILE, ON THREADNEEDLE STREET...

Former Chief Cashier Leslie O’Brien was Governor of the Bank of England when this note was issued. He was the Bank’s 115th Governor, serving from July 1, 1966 to June 30, 1973.


ON A PERSONAL NOTE...

As a collector of English coins, I especially appreciate the vignette of St. George and the dragon on the front of this banknote, as it very closely resembles the design on the reverse of the Sovereign.

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