NEW ENGLISH £1 NOTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 13

NEW ENGLISH £1 NOTE

APPEARS IN AUCKLAND EXIT THE ’ BRADBURY’’ The first of the new Bank of England notes has made its appearance in Auckland- The issue, which has been restored to the bank by Act of the Imperial Parliament, was taken out of the hands of the Treasury on November 22. Ail the familiar “Brad burys” in circulation during the war and until the operation of the Act, will gradually disappear. Differing widely from the old issue which was in bronze ink. the new pound note is printed in a leaf green on a pule blue background. In placo of the view of the Houses of Parliament on the back of the £ 1 Treasury note reproduction of the front elevation of the “Old Lady of Threadneedlo street,” as the Bank of Kngland is affectionately known to Londoners, appears encompassed by foliage in tints of blue, green and mauve. In size it is about a quarter of an inch narrower and an inch shorter than the New Zealand note. The principal addition to the design is a “window” water-mark in the middle of the lower half of the front side. The mark represents the head, of Britannia in profile with a large helmet cf classic “motif.” The head has been likened by one critit to that of Minerva! “A significant feature is the disappearance of the war-like symbols of the Treasury note,” observes the critic. “There is no St. George spearing dragons”—lie apparently ignores the saint hard at it portrayed on the sovereigns on the back—”or upstanding Britannia with threatening trident facing the world. Britannia in. the new notes is a very peaceful seated lady with an olive branch and a staff! that would harm no one. The King’s head, on the middle of the Treasury issue, is replaced by leaves and scrolls. Artists and sculptors were invited to comment. As was also inevitable they all had some fault to find. One thought the notes “poor, commonplace and undistinguished.” Andther considered they were “not a credit to the nation. * Another, although of opinion that the issue was infinitely preferable to thq old. missed the Houses of Parliament. Many millions have been printed* but the banks have been instructed to continue to issue Treasury notes, only withdrawing those that are badly soiled. Many attempts have been made by clever people to get one of the first hundred. It is stated authoritatively that the first note was presented to the King, the second to the Queen, and then in numerical order to the Lord Mayor, the Prime Minister and. the Minister who had charge of the Bill. The next five are said to have gone to the “Big Five” at Scotland Yard, who are said to be impressed .by the# watermark >• _