The 1928 £1 note

In 1928, the Bank of England began producing and issuing £1 notes. Before then, all the Bank’s notes were printed in black ink on white paper. William Keesey designed this colourful note. It was different to anything the Bank had issued before.

On the back of the note is an image of the Bank’s Threadneedle Street building. Below it are two coins – these are gold sovereigns. Sovereigns were originally worth £1 and they each represent the value of the banknote.