New UK Banknotes: Churchill Out, Wildlife In

The Bank of England has launched a public vote on which wildlife species will appear on its next series of banknotes. According to the BBC, 18 animals have been shortlisted, spanning mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and insects, from which the public will choose their favorites for the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes.

Voting runs until 3 July and each participant can support up to six species, with up to two favorites in each of three categories. One animal will feature on each new banknote.

The mammal candidates include the bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten and red fox. Birds on the shortlist are the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker and white-tailed eagle. The third category comprises the Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly and marsh fritillary butterfly.

The final decision will not rest solely on the public vote. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey will decide the final selection and is not bound to choose the most popular species.

The new notes will retain the portrait of the monarch and symbols of the four parts of the UK. For the first time since 1970, however, the reverse side will not feature significant historical figures. Current British banknotes depict Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J. M. W. Turner and Alan Turing.

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