Edward Blaise
Information Access Team
via email to:
Communications Directorate
request-770609-
T 020 3461 4878
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
F 020 3461 5460
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx
2 August 2021
Please quote ref. CAS-33810-H5K6Y4 on all
correspondence
Dear Edward Blaise
Thank you for your email dated 3 July in which you ask for access to the following under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (‘FoI Act’):
‘…the details of the recipients of the new £50 polymer banknotes from AA01 000001 to AA01
000020. If the intended recipients donated these notes to the charity auction, this can be noted’
When we release a new banknote, we hold back some of the first printed notes with especially low or
symbolic serial numbers. We donate these to people and institutions that were involved in the
development of the note or who traditionally receive a note when a new series is issued. A list of the
recipients of the low numbered £50 polymer banknotes donated to individuals and institutions can be
viewed on our website at:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/freedom-of-information/2021/details-of-the-
recipients-of-the-low-numbered-new-50-banknotes. As you may know, the Bank of England (the ‘Bank’) also conducted an auction through Spink & Sons of
low serial numbered £50 notes on 15 July, details of which can be found on the Spink & Sons website at:
https://www.spink.com/auction/21023. The auction raised £237,040 to be split between 3 charities which
were chosen by the Bank’s employees: Shelter, NSPCC in aid of Childline and the Albert Kennedy Trust.
Further information on the auction can be found on the Bank’s website at:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2021/july/banknote-auction-for-charity Yours sincerely
Heena Rabadia
Information Access Team
Your right to complain under the FoI Act
If you are unhappy with the Bank’s response, you may ask for that decision to be reviewed internally. Please note that this will be
subject to the Bank having received your submission within two months of the date of this response. In order to submit an internal
review, please set out the grounds for your appeal and send it to Wendy Galvin, Information Access Team (TS-Mz), Communications
Directorate, Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH or by email to
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx for the
attention of Wendy Galvin.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for
a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
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