I had a rare day off today — the kind that’s not just a day off from work but from childcare too — so took the opportunity to visit the Bank of England Museum, and in particular their new exhibit on The Future of Money which opened this past Wednesday.
To be completely honest, the main reason I went was to see the new banknotes featuring King Charles III, which are planned to go into circulation later this year.
The way things are going with payments shifting away from cash in favour of cards and digital payments it’s not obvious how much we’ll all end up using these. As if to highlight the diminished role of cash in my life, it was only when I looked at the display of different sets of notes through the ages that I discovered the Adam Smith £20 was phased out and replaced by JMW Turner way back in 2020. I hope I’m not the only one who didn’t notice.
Two other points of interest to note: the vending machine that I got stuck in…
… and the book selection in the gift shop being right on point.
The exhibition is on until late next year so you have plenty of time to check it out if you’re interested.