The Royal Bank of Scotland £10 note facts for kids
| (United Kingdom) | |
|---|---|
| Value | £10 sterling |
| Width | 132 mm |
| Height | 69 mm |
| Security features | See-through window, raised print, security thread, image transition, UV fluorescence, microlettering |
| Paper type | Polymer |
| Years of printing | 1727–present 2017–present (current design) |
| Obverse | |
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|
| Design | Mary Somerville |
| Design date | 2017 |
| Reverse | |
 |
|
| Design | Two otters |
| Design date | 2017 |
The Royal Bank of Scotland £10 note, also called a tenner, is a type of British money. It is a banknote issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland. This £10 note is the third smallest amount of money printed by the bank.
The newest version of this note is made from a special plastic material called polymer. It was first made in 2017. On the front, you can see a picture of a famous scientist named Mary Somerville. On the back, there are two otters.
Contents
History of the £10 Note
When Did the £10 Note Start?
The Royal Bank of Scotland started printing £10 notes way back in 1727. This was the same year the bank first opened! The very first notes were only one color and had printing on just one side.
For a long time, rules for Scottish banknotes were set by laws like the Banknote (Scotland) Act of 1845. Later, the Banking Act of 2009 took over these rules.
Are Scottish Notes Real Money?
Even though Scottish banknotes are not officially "legal tender" everywhere in Scotland, they are still real money. People generally accept them all over the United Kingdom. This means if you have a Scottish £10 note, it's just as good as a £10 note from the Bank of England.
Older Designs of the £10 Note
Unlike notes from the Bank of England, Scottish banknotes are not taken out of use as quickly. So, you might still see different versions of the Royal Bank of Scotland £10 note.
One older design was called the Ilay series. These notes first came out in 1987. The front of these notes showed a picture of Lord Ilay. He was the very first governor of The Royal Bank of Scotland. You could also see Lord Ilay's picture as a watermark when you held the note up to the light.
Other parts of the Ilay series design included the bank's special symbol (its coat of arms) and its logo. There was also a picture of Dundas House in Edinburgh, which is the bank's main building. The back of all Ilay series notes featured a castle. On the £10 note, you would find a picture of Glamis Castle.
The New Polymer £10 Note
The newest £10 note, made from polymer, was released in 2017. The Committee of Scottish Bankers told people to use or swap their old paper £10 notes before March 1, 2018.
The design for this new note was shown in April 2016. It features a portrait of the scientist Mary Somerville on the front. Next to her picture, there is an image of Burntisland beach. You can also read a quote from one of Somerville's books, The Connection of the Physical Sciences.
The back of the new note shows two otters. There is also a small part of a poem called Moorings by Norman MacCaig.
Different £10 Note Designs Over Time
Here's a quick look at some of the £10 note designs:
| Note Type | First Issued | Main Color | Size | What's on the Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilay | 1987 | Brown | 142 × 75 mm | Front: Lord Ilay; Back: Glamis Castle |
| Polymer | 4 October 2017 | Brown | 132 × 69 mm | Front: Mary Somerville; Back: Two otters |
