Today sees the introduction of a new five-pound note in Britain featuring a host of security gimmicks to try and beat forgers.
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"This is the most secure five pound note we have ever produced," said the Bank of England's chief cashier Mr Merlyn Lowther, whose signature appears on the notes.
The new notes are the same size and broadly the same colour as their forerunners.
They incorporate security features used in the current £10 and £20 notes, including a foil hologram that flips between Britannia to the number five, and a red and green five which only shows up under ultraviolet light.
The Bank of England, which prints all British notes, estimates there are 209 million "fivers" in circulation, compared to 592 million "tenners" and 816 million £20 notes.
"Old fivers" will remain legal tender for some time.