The faces on our British bank notes are set to change in the near future. Author Jane Austen may replace Charles Darwin on the £10 note, outgoing governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King has revealed today.
Speaking at the end of his final appearance as governor, Sir Mervyn said the author was "quietly waiting in the wings" to replace Darwin.
But he said the final decision would be down to his successor Mark Carney.
The Bank has been criticised for its decision to replace Elizabeth Fry on the £5 note with Sir Winston Churchill. Campaigners complained that this would mean no women would be represented on UK bank notes.
If Jane Austen is confirmed as the next face of the £10 note, she will become only the third woman to be featured on UK banknotes - apart from the Queen - following Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth Fry.
Current Bank of England banknote images
£5: Elizabeth Fry, social reformer noted for her work to improve conditions for women prisoners
£10: Charles Darwin, the scientist who laid the foundations of the theory of evolution
£20: Adam Smith, one of the fathers of modern economics
£50: Matthew Boulton and James Watt, who brought the steam engine into the textile manufacturing process. They are replacing notes featuring the first governor of the Bank of England, Sir John Houblon
If you could decide, who would you put on the British bank notes?
Speaking at the end of his final appearance as governor, Sir Mervyn said the author was "quietly waiting in the wings" to replace Darwin.
But he said the final decision would be down to his successor Mark Carney.
The Bank has been criticised for its decision to replace Elizabeth Fry on the £5 note with Sir Winston Churchill. Campaigners complained that this would mean no women would be represented on UK bank notes.
If Jane Austen is confirmed as the next face of the £10 note, she will become only the third woman to be featured on UK banknotes - apart from the Queen - following Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth Fry.
Current Bank of England banknote images
£5: Elizabeth Fry, social reformer noted for her work to improve conditions for women prisoners
£10: Charles Darwin, the scientist who laid the foundations of the theory of evolution
£20: Adam Smith, one of the fathers of modern economics
£50: Matthew Boulton and James Watt, who brought the steam engine into the textile manufacturing process. They are replacing notes featuring the first governor of the Bank of England, Sir John Houblon
If you could decide, who would you put on the British bank notes?
