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Queen Elizabeth QE II 1978-1980 J B Page United Kingdom Sir Isaac Newton £1 Pound Circulated Bank Note
This listing is for one circulated £1 note I have had in my possession from a trip to the UK in June, 1980. It features a beautiful depiction of Queen Elizabeth II on the front, and noted scientist Sir Isaac Newton on the back. This note is from the Series D pictorial series issues between 1978 and 1988, although this particular note dates to pre June 1980. I have blurred out the serial number in the photos. It was while J B Page was Chief Cashier at the Bank of England in the late 1970's that the Pictorial £1 was introduced. The Bank of England started issuing these 1 British Pound banknotes in 1978. They were withdrawn from circulation in 1988 and replaced with a £1 coin. This one pound bill shows the portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Isaac Newton, English physicist and mathematician. The words ‘Bank of England’ are printed on the green colored £1 paper note. This £1 banknote was part of the Series D Pictorial Issue series of £1 banknotes, and was the first £1 banknote issued since decimalization in 1971. The reverse features Isaac Newton, genius of the Scientific Revolution and one of the most famous figures to ever hold the role of Master of the Mint. This was the first time that £1 banknotes featured a portrait in celebration of an important person in British history. The obverse features a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the signature of J B Page, who was Chief Cashier at the time. Chief Cashiers at The Bank of England have the important role of ensuring all UK banknotes meet the required expectations and needs of the public. They have also been the sole signatory of each newly issued banknote since 1870. Banknote enthusiasts have since collected each banknote issued with a different Chief Cashier’s signature. From 1983 the £1 banknote was gradually replaced by the £1 coin, and the note ceased to be legal tender on 11th March 1988.
Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author, widely recognized as one of the greatest mathematicians and physicists of all time and among the most influential scientists. He was a key figure in the philosophical revolution known as the Enlightenment. His book Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, first published in 1687, established classical mechanics. Newton also made seminal contributions to optics, and shares credit with German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz for developing infinitesimal calculus.
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