New banknotes to mark Homecoming

A set of six new banknotes portraying some of Scotland’s most famous people and places are to be released in connection with the Homecoming celebrations.

Clydesdale Bank will be releasing the banknotes—to include a £10 note featuring Robert Burns—in order to coincide with the year-long celebration commemorating his 250th birthday.

David Thorburn, the chief operating officer at Clydesdale said: “The new banknote family showcases the best of Scotland – its people and its heritage.”

Other key Scottish figures set to appear on the notes include Robert the Bruce, Sir Alexander Fleming, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and the famous suffragette Elsie Inglis.

While the famous faces will be displayed on the front of the notes, the reverse of the notes will show Scotland’s five world heritage sites: Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, Antonine Wall, St Kilda, Neolithic Orkney and New Lanark.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister said: “The launch of the new notes was an indication of the bank’s strength and commitment to Scotland in the current economic climate.”

Clydesdale Bank is the largest issuer of banknotes in Scotland at the moment, with around £1.1 billion worth of the bank’s notes being in circulation during any week.

The set of £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100 notes will be the first new notes to be produced by the Clydesdale Bank in over 20 years and will be released into circulation late this autumn.

The Scottish Homecoming '09 celebrations started on the anniversary of Robert Burns’ birthday, 25 January, and are to continue until St Andrews Day on 30 November.