British writer Jane Austen is the new face on £10 note
- The Bank of England unveiled its new £10 note, complete with the face of Jane Austen on the author's 200th anniversary.
- A £2 coin featuring the author is in circulation at Basingstoke and Winchester, which have connections to Austen.
- However, some sections of the population have taken umbrage at the new note because its made of animal fat.
FollowBank of England governor Mark Carney unveiled a new £10 note with a portrait of Jane Austen, one of Britain's most beloved writers. The note will be in circulation on September 14, on the 200th birth anniversary of the writer, who spoke of love, marriage and class in 17th century Britain.
Carney, who unveiled the note at Winchester Cathedral said the notes serve as "repositories of the country's collective memory, promoting awareness of the United Kingdom's glorious history and highlighting the contributions of its greatest citizens," the Associated Press reported.
The new £10 note follows the polymer £5 note, which has been in the middle of controversy due to its manufacturing process. The notes include traces of animal fat and this has sparked outrage among vegans and some religious groups in the country.
The new note has also been criticised by ardent fans of the writer. The new £10 note contains a quote by Catherine, a character in Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The quote goes like this, "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!" and fans feel let down by the selection of this particular quote since Catherine doesn't have an interest in books. However, Carney said the quote carries the spirit of what Austen wrote and believed.
The new £5 and 10 notes point to the Bank of England's new measures to make it secure. The notes, which are made with polymer and contain security features .He said the notes will last for five years, two and a half times longer than the notes which are currently in circulation.
