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The Pound Sterling

Countries where you can use the Sterling Pound

The Sterling Pound is one of the oldest and most known and used currencies in the world. It is actually the 4th most used currency in the world. The US dollar is number one, followed by the euro and on 3rd place the Yen in placed just above the pound. We all can picture a pound note in our minds even with recent changes. That is why we are going to tell you a but more about this currency, where can you use it and how at Eurochange you can get them or exchange them to Euros.

The pound, or the “quid” as is used in slang, can be used in many countries. And even if there is different coins and notes designs the value does not change, one pound is one pound no matter where they come from. But don’t be mistaken, we are talking about the sterling pound, since there are many other countries that use pound as their currency but is not the same currency. In Syria, Egypt, Sudan and Lebanon also use pound, but those countries do not use the sterling pound and the value is not the same. 

The sterling pound can be used in many countries around the globe. Of course, can be used in the United Kingdom, this means that you can use them in England, Scotland, Wales and Norther Ireland, remember than in Ireland you will need Euros to do your shopping. Within the UK, and even the value is the same, we will be able to see different designs on the notes. There are eight banks allowed to print their own starling pounds: Bank of England (England); Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank (Scotland); and Bank of Ireland, First Trust Bank, Danske Bank and Ulster Bank (Nother Ireland). Don’t be afraid if you get one different note while you are traveling thru the UK, just check that it comes from one of the banks listed above and you will be ok.

Is that it? Not even close. There are many other countries or territories that also use the sterling pound. Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the British Antarctic Territory, and Tristan da Cunha make the list of places where you can spend your pounds larger. In all those places the official currency is the sterling pound. Some of them are well known, but others are basically deserted territories or colonies. 

Unfortunately, while you are in Spain you will not be able to spend your pounds to go around the country. Even you will be able to find some places they accept the currency the best thing to do is to exchange your pounds to Euros, the official Spanish currency. And the best way to do it is coming to Eurochange to do so. We have really good exchange rates for you. But that is not it, at Eurochange we will provide you with the best customer service, we will answer all your inquiries and questions free of charge. Also, Eurochange has no hidden fees or commissions and our Money Agents are the best in the business, not just because they are great doing their job, but also because they are the friendliest and will help you out in all your needs. Check our many locations thru the Spanish territory and come to exchange your sterling pounds into euros.

Also, this is a two-way street, if you have euros and you planning to travel to one of the many places we named before, you can also come to Eurochange to get your British pounds. The exchange rate is as good as the opposite way but also you can make your reservation at our website and we will have your pounds ready for you when you arrive to pick them up. 

New pound coins featuring King Charles

The release of the new UK coins featuring King Charles after the Queen´s de

New coins featuring the portrait of King Charles have been revealed, with a 50p carrying his image entering general circulation within weeks.

The coins follow centuries of tradition with the monarch now facing left – the opposite way to his predecessor
As with previous British kings, and unlike the Queen, he wears no crown.
King Charles personally approved the effigy, and was understood to be pleased with the likeness.

. The full inscription surrounding the King's image reads "CHARLES III • D • G • REX • F • D • 5 POUNDS • 2022", shortened from Latin, which translates to "King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith".
The 50p coin will be available for general use well before the end of the year, distributed according to demand by banks, building societies and post offices.
They will co-circulate with coins featuring the late Queen, so those 27 billion coins will still be accepted in shops.
From the start of next year, coins from the 1p to the £2, which we use in day-to-day life, will be minted carrying the same image of King Charles. They will be sent out when needed to replace damaged and worn older coins and to cover any extra demand.
There will also be two new coins designs – on a 50p and a £5 coin – to celebrate the Queen, charting her journey from a young monarch to a long-standing head of state.

These are just coins but in Eurochange are waiting for the new notes to be released in order to add them to our long list of exchange currencies. And remember, if you want to exchange your pounds to Euros, come visit us! Check out locator and find a Eurochange office near you.
 

Money and The Queen

A look at the british currency´s history with Queen Elizabeth in them

Following the Queen's death on September 8 a number of changes have already begun getting underway, some of them being the first in a lifetime. For ordinary people Britain everyday things like money and stamps, both of which currently carry Queen Elizabeth II's face, will have to be replaced. Although the Bank of England has not yet confirmed the date that the money will change, there is likely to be a significant transition phase between notes and coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II and those with King Charles III's image. Taking this as our departing point we are going to take a walk down to money history lane and take a look back to all the notes that had Queen Elizabeth as the main character. 

1956 – The Bank of England is allowed to use the Queen's portrait

1960–1961 The Queen first appears on a Bank of England note

1961Test prints for the Queen's portrait

1963–1964 Series C £5 and £10 notes

1967 An unissued 50p note

1970s New portraits for D Series notes

1970 A new portrait for 'high sum' notes

1971A second portrait for the £5 and £1 notes

1990 A timeless image for E Series

1990 Design for the watermark portrait

Since 1990 Creating a watermark

Since 2016 Portraits on polymer

From the Eurochange family we share the British’s loss. Times of changes are coming soon but we will remain the same. We still exchanging the old paper pounds to euro, but not all of them of course, anyways a note from 1960 will be more valuable that what the currency cost. Find us using our store locator and come to exchange your currency. 

And if you are interested on knowing more about the history of these historical moments on britain´s money, let us know in the comments and we will make another post going deeper in the history of some of those notes. 

 

 

When will paper £20 and £50 notes expire?

A brief explanation about the expiration of the £20 and £50 notes and what

 

When will paper £20 and £50 notes expire?

The Bank of England will be withdrawing legal tender status of paper £20 and £50 banknotes after 30 September 2022. According to the Bank of England, the majority of banknotes have been replaced but there are still more than £6bn worth of paper £20s and £8bn worth of paper £50s in circulation. After 30 September, these will no longer be legal tender.

 

Which ones are the polymer notes?

The latest polymer banknote to be issued was the £50 note “featuring Bletchley Park codebreaker and scientist Alan Turing” last year. The first plastic £20 note, featuring artist JMW Turner, was issued in February 2020. The £10 polymer features author Jane Austen, while the £5 shows war-time prime minister Sir Winston Churchill.

Why are they changing?

Bank of England’s Chief Cashier Sarah John said “Changing our banknotes from paper to polymer over recent years has been an important development, because it makes them more difficult to counterfeit, and means they are more durable." She also encouraged everyone to: “spend them now, or deposit them into a bank account.”

 

But what can I do with my old notes?

Don’t panic: the Bank of England honours every banknote that's ever been printed, so you'll always be able to take, or post, your note to London to swap it for a new one.

If you miss the 30 September deadline, you may still be able to deposit old notes at your bank. 

And what about in Spain?

At our Eurochange exchange currency offices you can bring them to us at any of our locations and we exchange you pound to euro .

Currency Mysteries: US Dollar and Sterling Pound

Curiosities about some of the american dollars and british pounds

The past week we went over some fun facts about the 4th of july. This week we are going to take a look on some fun facts about United States Dollars and British Pounds.

What does the Star on the serial number means on the US Dollars?

Many times people come to the currency exchange offices wondering about what the star means on their dollars. And we do have the answer: those are replacement notes.

And what is a “replacement note”? You may ask. Replacement notes are those that has to be printed again after there is a printing error occurs during a normal press run and renders a set of bills unusable.The replacement notes have a sequence of their own, using the star as their final "letter." This allows for 99,999,999 possible replacement notes for any given bank, series and denomination and there is about one error in every 100,000 U.S. bills.

But this is not the only time notes are replaced. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing receives around 25,000 mutilated currency redemption claims annually. Each bill is shredded and sent to waste energy facilities for disposal and a check it is sent in return to the bank that sent the damaged note.

And if you wonder… No, the star on the bills does not add any value in the dollar to euro exchange. Some private collector maybe can pay more for those notes, as well as for correlative serial number notes, or notes with printing errors, but oficially they all have their original value.

 

Some questions about sterling pounds.

There is nothing like a star in the sterling notes, but the british currency has many curiosities and fun historical facts.

Where the sterling pound name comes from? The british pound it´s also called sterling pound because historically the value was the equivalent to a pound of silver, hence why it's sometimes referred to as the "pound sterling.

And why is pound? The name can be trace back to the roman era , and it is translated from the word Libra which means weight or balance. More fully, the words Libra Pondo meant pound weight. I am sure you already assumed this fact, but just in case, this is the main reason why the symbol of the British Pound its an L, the same initial letter from Libra.

Are all the pound the same? There is nothing like the dollar star? In this case we can find some peculiarities on the old one pound coins. There are many countries that use the pound outside the UK. We can find brittish pounds also Falklands Pound, Guernsey Pound ,Gibraltar Pound , Manx Pound, Jersey Sterling Pound and St.-Helena Pound and some of them can be seen on the old 1 pound coin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we are back to the important question asked frequently on the money exchange offices: Do they have more value? And the answer, as in the dollar´s case, it is no. The value of those coins are the same as the original british pound when you trying to change pound to euro.

And last but not least: can I change my “star” dollars and my Sterling pounds everywhere? At Eurochange we accept all kind of notes. You can change pound to euro in all of our locations. And not just that, you can also buy dollars using euros but, even we cannot promise a star on our notes, we can guarantee a 5 star service from all our agents at Eurochange.

Plans to do in London in May and where to change from euros to pounds

We propose some plans to make your getaway to London and where to change fr

May is the month of flowers, the days are super long and the weather is very pleasant. Visiting London in May is ideal for making plans outside.

 

1. ENJOY THE FLOWER FESTIVAL IN CHELSEA

 

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the world's most prestigious flower show and takes place in London in May. These days, the Royal Chelsea Hospital becomes an ephemeral art museum where international landscape architects use flowers and greenery from across the UK to fashion their works.

If this exhibition is out of your budget, you have a free plan B. Be sure to take a walk through the streets of Chelsea, one of the most elegant neighborhoods in London, and enjoy Chelsea in Bloom.

It is an alternative floral art show where local shops, restaurants and hotels compete by adorning their entrances with the most creative themed floral designs.

 

2. SAIL BY BOAT ON THE THAMES IN LONDON

 

Going by boat in London is one of the experiences that we most recommend. The boat trip on the Thames in London allows you to enjoy a bit of relaxation (which is appreciated in a city as busy as this) while you get to know the main monuments of the city from a different perspective.

Most cruises in London usually have an open-air room and another acclimatized for cold days, but the best thing is that they also have a bar/cafeteria where you can have a warm coffee or a beer.

 

 3. PARTICIPATE IN THE LITTLE VENICE FESTIVAL

 

The bridge of the first weekend of May (early May bank holiday), the canals of Little Venice are flooded with colors. The Inland Waterways Association hosts the annual Boat Gathering where more than 100 boats moor along the Grand Union Canal between Blomfield Road, Warwick Avenue and Warwick Crescent to participate decked out in this cavalcade.

Lots of fun awaits you here, dancers, street food stalls, Ale taps, craft stalls, live music and children's activities.

 

4. GET TO KNOW LONDON IN SPANISH WITH THE AVAILABLE FREE TOURS

 

Put on comfortable shoes and join a free walking tour in London. They are the best way to get to know the city. Free tours are guided walking routes without a stipulated price. It is you who will have the freedom to voluntarily assess the work of the guide once you have already known his work. They are based on the idea of ​​why pay for something before knowing it if I don't know if I am going to like it or not?

 

5. SEE LONDON FROM THE HEIGHTS

 

Any time of the year is good to see London from above. Our advice is that, if you can, do it at sunset. If you are lucky and the day is sunny, you will see how the sunlight draws pink strokes on the clouds in the sky and dyes the buildings in ocher and gold tones, with pronounced shadows that will make your photos spectacular.

 

6. ENJOY THE OUTDOOR THEATER

 

In May, the season of London's Regent's Park Open Air Theater begins. This is a great opportunity to see an outdoor play in Regents Park, one of the most beautiful parks in London, making it a unique experience.

If you really like the theater, don't forget that London is the home of the West End, the neighborhood with the highest number of theaters per square meter in all of Europe. The best plays and musicals are here. The Phantom of the Opera, the Lion King, Les Miserables…

 

Well, as you can see, you have many activities available to do in London if you travel this spring, all you have to do is pack your suitcase and enjoy your getaway.

Remember that in London you cannot pay with euros, the currency in circulation there is the pound sterling. Go to our website and make your reservation or go to any office in our network with a currency sales service and make the change from euro to pound and you won't have to worry about anything else. Call us at the Customer Service Center 615403877 and our operators will be happy to answer your questions.

 

Leave us a comment and we will reply as soon as possible!

 

 

 

Banknotes of 50 and 20 British Pounds in paper, there is already a date for withdrawal

The Bank of England warns about the date of withdrawal of paper 50 and 20 p

THE BANK OF ENGLAND has issued a major update, reminding Britons that their £20 and £50 notes will soon be obsolete, prompting people to use them while they can.
 

Paper notes are common currency throughout the UK and many people are used to paying with them on a day to day basis. However, in a vital alert, the Bank of England has said that paper notes will be phased out entirely. Since many people still have them in various places around the house, it is important to take action. In a Twitter post, the Bank of England highlighted the matter in the run-up to Christmas. It read: “Last Christmas to spend your £20 paper and £50 bills. Retailers can still accept their £20 and £50 paper notes." However, the central bank also highlighted the date when this would no longer be the case. The old £20 and £50 notes will be officially phased out on 30 September 2022. They will be replaced by polymer alternatives as the last banknotes to be phased out of paper.
The £5 paper notes were the first to be phased out, ceasing to be legal tender in May 2017. The old £10 notes followed closely in March 2018, with replacements gradually entering circulation. The Bank of England has since introduced polymer £20 notes, first issued on February 20, 2020. The new £50 polymer note was first put into circulation on June 23, 2021. The The Bank of England's website has urged action on the £20 and £50 paper notes as they near maturity. It encourages people to spend or deposit them in the bank before the date of September 30, 2022. The reason for phasing out paper notes in the UK is clear and outlined by the central bank. He has explained that the newer banknotes have advanced security features, describing them as "our most secure set of polymer banknotes yet". The new £20 and £50 notes feature two windows and two-colour foil, which should make them very difficult to counterfeit.
However, aside from this, there are additional benefits to the newer polymer notes as well, with the Bank of England adding: “One of the benefits shared by all our polymer notes is that they last longer than paper notes and keep up. in better condition during its useful life. Use. "This note, like the polymer £10 and £20, will have a tactile feature to help visually impaired people identify the denomination."
Although older banknotes will no longer be legal tender, Britons need not panic. This is because the central bank will always accept them and they can be exchanged for legal tender. There are a number of ways that people will be able to deal with their old bills aside from spending them. A local bank branch, if open, should be the best port of call, as it's not likely to bother the Brits. Here, people will usually be able to bring their old bills to the counter to exchange them for the polymer alternatives. Some providers allow people to deposit the old currency into their bank account, which is also convenient. Alternatively, people can also visit the post office to deal with the matter and make the change. However, it is worth noting that once a note has been withdrawn from circulation, a bank or post office has no legal obligation to make an exchange. Finally, for those who are closer to home or wish to travel, the Bank of England can make the switch. It is located on Threadneedle Street, London, where a person can enter to exchange notes. They should be aware that there might be a wait time to get to a desk, depending on how busy it is at the time. Other people can mail their notes to the central bank if this is more appropriate for them.
 

If you are in Spain and you have banknotes out of circulation, you should know that at Eurochange we can make the change for you since we accept exotic currency, from all over the world, currency out of circulation and even deteriorated. Do not hesitate to call us or come to any office in our network and we will be happy to make the change for you.
Leave us a comment and we will respond as soon as possible, or call us at the customer service phone number 615403877 and we will answer your questions.

New 20 Pound polymer banknote

This is the new 20 Sterling Pound note

As we already told you about the 5 Pound note and the 10 Pound note, the Bank of England is in the process of renovating the Pound Sterling and they are replacing paper banknotes with polymer (plastic) ones.

New polymer 20 Pound note

On February 20 the new 20 Pound Sterling polymer banknote will be in circulation.

What will the new 20 Pound note look like?

In this new note the image of Queen Elizabeth II remains on the obverse, but on the reverse the character is renewed. Adam Smith present on the cotton paper note will be replaced by the painter William Turner, famous landscape designer of the 18th and 19th centuries who stood out in oil painting as well as in watercolor.

In addition, this new note will incorporate security measures similar to those that already have the 5 and 10 Pound notes as the see through window, the hologram with changing text or the 3D silver printing of the Crown.

How long will the 20 Pound paper notes be valid?

For now, the 20 Pound paper banknotes will remain valid until further notice and can be used interchangeably with those made of polymer.

We will notify you in our blog when the withdrawal will occur so you can change them before they stop being in circulation.

Gibraltar Pounds and Jersey Pounds

Now you can exchange with us Gibraltar and Jersey Pounds

In Eurochange we exchange different types of Pounds (Sterling, Scottish and Northern Ireland) and since a few days we can also change in our exchange offices Gibraltar and Jersey Pounds.*

Notes of Sterling and Scottish Pound
Notes of Sterling and Scottish Pound
 
 

The Sterling Pound is the official currency of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey) and some British Overseas Territories (Gibraltar, Malvinas or Santa Elena, among others).

Although the Sterling Pounds are valid in these territories, in some cases they issue and mint their own Pounds. These pounds of each territory have the same value as the Sterling. The only difference is that, while the Sterling Pounds can be used anywhere, their own Pounds are only valid in the place where they are issued, they can’t be used outside.

For example, someone traveling to the Island of Jersey can bring Sterling Pounds. There the traveller will receive notes of Sterling Pounds or Jersey Pounds indistinctly. If after that, the traveller goes to England, he can still use the Sterling Pounds, but not the Jersey ones.

With this extension, in Eurochange you will now be able to exchange Sterling Pounds, Scottish Pounds, Northern Ireland Pounds, Gibraltar Pounds and Jersey Pounds with the same rate and without commissions.

 

* For reasons beyond Eurochange we can’t accept some denominations of Scottish, Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and Jersey Pounds. Contact us to confirm that we can change your notes.

Pound notes in circulation

We tell you which Pound notes are legal tender

In recent weeks we have received many inquiries in our Customer Service Center about the Pound banknotes that are currently in circulation. For this reason we are going to explain you which are the legal tender notes to solve all your doubts.

Sterling Pound current notes

Pound Sterling

The current Pound Sterling notes (valid in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and some British overseas territories (such as Gibraltar) are 5, 10, 20 and 50 Pounds.

In 2016, the Bank of England issued a new 5-pound note and in 2017, a new 10-pound one. Both notes are made of polymer and currently their paper versions have already been withdrawn. So currently the 5 and 10 pound notes are made of polymer and those of 20 and 50 are still paper.

In 2020, the 20-pound polymer banknote will be issued and in the following years the same will be the case for the 50-pound banknote.

 

Scottish Pound

The valid notes of the Scottish Pound are 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Pounds. In addition, Scottish banknotes are issued by three banks: Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank.

Each bank has its own series of notes. But for you to have a basic notion, it’s the same as with the British Pounds: the 5 and 10 paper notes have been withdrawn. So the 5 and 10 Pound notes are made of polymer and those of 20, 50 and 100 Pounds are paper.

In the coming years the other denominations will be progressively renewed.

 

Pounds from Northern Ireland

The legal tender notes of Northern Ireland Pounds are 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Pounds. As with the Pounds of Scotland, there are several banks that issue them. In this case there are 4: Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, First Trust and Ulster Bank. Among these only the Bank of Ireland and the Ulster Bank issue all denominations. Danske Bank and First Trust only issue 10 and 20 Pound notes.

In the case of the Pounds of Northern Ireland, all current notes are currently paper. It is anticipated that some of the banks will start issuing polymer bills starting in 2019.

 

As you can see, the banknote renewal process has begun, but there are still denominations to change. In the next few years, the notes will be renewed and old tickets will be removed from circulation. So from Eurochange we recommend that you don’t keep notes if you don’t plan to travel again in a short time, since it is possible that while you have them, they will be removed.

Once withdrawn from circulation, the only way to exchange these notes is at a branch of the Bank of England or one of the issuing banks in the case of the Scottish or Northern Ireland Pounds.

If you don’t want to waste a few hours of your next vacation in the process of changing the old notes, change your leftover Pounds just returned from travel.

Withdrawal of the 10 Pound paper note

The Bank of England withdraws the 10 Pound paper note

A few weeks ago we announced the arrival of the new 10 Pound polymer note and today the time has come for the withdrawal of its predecessor: the 10 Pound paper note.

Current 10 Pound notes

 

Official Withdrawal March 1st

At our exchange offices we can’t accept 10 Pound paper notes since last Thursday, February 8th. However, the official withdrawal in the United Kingdom will be next March 1st.

So these notes can still be used in the United Kingdom during the month of February.

 

What happens next?

If after March 1st you still have 10 Pound notes in paper, you can only make the change in the Bank of England, where they will exchange them for polymer ones.

Pounds: Sterling, Scottish or Irish?

If you have doubts about the different types of Pounds and where to use

If you are going to travel to the United Kingdom, you will need to buy Pounds to make your payments in cash. But the subject of the Pounds can be a little confusing if you look for information in forums or web pages where you can read about different types of Pounds that are used in each region. Today we clarify the most common doubts on this subject.

How many types of Pounds are there?

When we speak of Pounds in general, we usually speak of Sterling Pounds, which are those that can be used in most of the British territory (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Man Islands and Gibraltar). There are 5 Sterling banknotes in circulation: 5 and 10 Pounds in polymer and 10, 20 and 50 Pounds in paper.

Sterling Pounds notes

In addition to the Sterling Pounds, the Bank of England authorizes other entities to make their own Pounds. In this way, there are also the Scottish Pounds, Northern Ireland Pounds, Gibraltar Pounds, Jersey Pounds, Guernsey Pounds and Man Pounds.

On the other hand, there are more currencies that are called Pounds, such as Egyptian Pounds or Lebanese Pounds, but these have nothing to do with the Pounds that are used in the United Kingdom or the islands.

Where is each Pound used?

The Sterling Pound is the one that can be used everywhere: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Man Islands and Gibraltar.

The other Pounds belong to their own region and can be used together with the Sterling. That is, if you travel to Scotland and pay with a 20 Pound Sterling note, you can receive a 5 Pound Sterling note and a 10 Scottish Pound one; or even you can pay there with Sterling and Scots indiscriminately.

However, these Pounds have no official validity outside their territory: you can’t use Scottish Pounds in London, for example. The value is the same, and they are exchanged without any charge in the banks, but you have to take into account that you will not be able to use them outside the region.

If you are going to travel through several regions of the United Kingdom, keep in mind that the local pounds will not be valid outside of it. The most comfortable thing is to try to spend them before and not have to go changing later in the banks. If you are going to travel only to one area, there is no problem in carrying Sterling Pounds to use them there.

What happens if I have several spare Pounds on the way back?

On your return, keep in mind that not all places accept all Pounds and that the change applied may be different, being worse for non-Sterling Pounds.

In Eurochange we accept and we apply the same rate for all. Remember that we only work with notes, so we can’t change the coins either.

We hope we have solved some of your doubts, but if you still have any questions, contact us, we will be happy to help you.

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