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The Royal Bank of Scotland £50 note facts for kids

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Fifty pounds
(United Kingdom)
Value £50 sterling
Width 146 mm
Height 77 mm
Security features Holographic patch, Raised print, metallic security thread, watermark, microlettering, see-through registration device, UV feature
Paper type Polymer
Years of printing 1727, 2005–present
2021–present (current design)
Obverse
Design Flora Stevenson
Design date 2021
Reverse
Design Two ospreys, a mackerel, lady's bedstraw
Design date 2021

The Royal Bank of Scotland £50 note is a special banknote used in the United Kingdom. It is the second largest money note made by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The newest £50 note, made from a type of plastic called polymer, was first released in 2021. It shows Flora Stevenson on the front. On the back, you can see two ospreys (a type of bird), a mackerel fish, and a plant called lady's bedstraw.

History of the £50 Note

The Royal Bank of Scotland started making £50 notes way back in 1727. That's the same year the bank first opened! The very first notes were only one color and printed on just one side.

For a long time, Scottish banks had rules about making banknotes. The Banknote (Scotland) Act 1845 set these rules. Later, a new law called the Banking Act 2009 took its place. Even though Scottish banknotes are not officially "legal tender" everywhere in Scotland, people generally accept them across the United Kingdom. This means they are real money. Also, Scottish banknotes are fully backed by the bank. This gives them the same protection as notes from the Bank of England.

The Ilay Series Notes

In 1987, the Royal Bank of Scotland started a new series of banknotes called the Ilay series. However, the £50 note was not part of this series at first. The bank added the £50 note to the Ilay series in 2005. These were the first £50 notes the bank had made since 1727!

The front of these notes shows a picture of Lord Ilay. He was the very first governor of the Royal Bank of Scotland. You can also see his image as a watermark when you hold the note up to the light. Other designs on these notes include the bank's special symbol (its coat of arms) and its logo. You can also see a picture of Dundas House, which is the bank's main building in Edinburgh. There is also a pattern that looks like the ceiling of the banking hall inside the building.

All the notes in the Ilay series have a castle on the back. The £50 note in this series shows a picture of Inverness Castle.

The New Polymer £50 Note

On August 18, 2021, a brand new £50 note was released. This new note is made from polymer, which is a type of plastic. It replaced the older paper notes. The new polymer note features Flora Stevenson on the front. Unlike the old paper note, which was green, the new polymer note is red.

Designs of the £50 Note

Here's a quick look at the different designs of the £50 note:

Note Type First Made Color Size What's on the Front and Back Extra Information
Ilay 2005 Green 156 × 85 mm Front: Lord Ilay; Back: Inverness Castle This was the first £50 note since 1727.
Polymer 2021 Red 146 x 77 mm Front: Flora Stevenson; Back: Two ospreys, a mackerel, lady's bedstraw Made from plastic for better durability.
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