Queen Elizabeth II appeared on banknotes in at least 33 countries, featuring on numerous denominations, with the UK alone having her image on all its banknotes (around 4.7 billion) and many other Commonwealth nations like Canada and Australia featuring her on their lower-denomination notes, such as Australia's $5 note. Her image was on more currencies than any other monarch, appearing from when she was a child to near her death, with gradual replacement by King Charles III now occurring.
There are currently over 4.6 billion Queen Elizabeth banknotes in circulation and, there's no set date for them to be retired. “The Queen Elizabeth notes will be around for as long as they physically last and they're made of polymer, which makes them robust,” says Pam West, who runs dealer Pam West British Bank Notes.
Whilst the graphic design, technological features, security elements and narrative themes behind Australia's banknotes have evolved significantly throughout that period, the Queen's portrait on Australian currency has been a thread of continuity woven through seven decades.
It's not just British currency which features the late monarch's image. Her face still features on the currency of 35 countries worldwide, more than any other monarch. These countries include Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Cyprus where she appears on notes and coins as head of the Commonwealth.
Banknotes with the late Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender, so you don't need to exchange them for new ones featuring King Charles III. Any old paper notes you hand in are exchanged for new polymer ones of the same value.
Banknotes featuring the portrait of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will remain legal tender, and can continue to be used.
It bears the images of King Charles III on the obverse and computer scientist and World War II codebreaker Alan Turing on the reverse, with his birth date reflecting the release date.
Since 2022, Canada has been a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), a rotating group of nine Commonwealth foreign ministers that addresses country situations and recommends measures for upholding Commonwealth Charter values, including democracy and human rights.
King Charles III banknotes entered circulation on 5 June 2024. Banknotes featuring a portrait of King Charles III were first issued on 5 June 2024. The portrait of the King appears on existing designs of all four banknotes (£5, £10, £20, and £50), with no other changes to the existing designs.
“Quid” is an informal word for one pound sterling. So, “ten quid” means £10 — just like “ten pounds”. But here's the key: “quid” is uncountable. You never say “quids” — even when talking about large amounts.
No, Australia does not currently issue a $500 banknote; the highest denomination in circulation is the $100 note, with the standard notes being $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. While older, high-value paper notes (like $1000) were once in circulation, they are no longer issued, and the Reserve Bank of Australia focuses on the current range of polymer notes.
Banknotes that feature the portrait of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II remain legal tender and are co-circulating alongside King Charles III notes. New banknotes will only be printed to replace those that are worn or damaged to meet any overall increase in demand for banknotes.
The King will continue to, in strict legal terms, own all the lands of Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, 32 other members (around two-thirds) of the Commonwealth, and Antarctica.
Bank notes with the Queen on are fine. However, they must have a little plastic see through window, if not they are old and need exchanging. You can do this at the Bank of England . You can't do this at a regular bank unless you have an account there.
Coutts Bank is one of the oldest banks in the world, being founded in 1692. Until the 20th century the bank catered exclusively as a clearing bank to the nobility and landed gentry – indeed, members of the Royal family are still personal clients.
The largest value banknote in circulation is the 10,000 Brunei Dollar (BND), which is equivalent to approximately $7,500 USD as of 2025. This note is issued by the Monetary Authority of Brunei Darussalam and is interchangeable with the Singapore Dollar due to a longstanding currency agreement.
She will be Dowager Queen. It's not unusual at all every Queen who outlives her husband the King becomes a Queen Dowager. They are still styled as HM Queen followed by name. Camilla will hold the title of Queen until death, if Charles preceded her the role she carries out will change from consort to dowager.
A specific type of misprinted $1 bill from the 2013 Series, particularly in matching pairs, can be worth up to $150,000 to collectors, due to an error where millions were printed with duplicate serial numbers. To identify one, check for a "Series 2013" date near George Washington's photo, a "B" Federal Reserve seal, and a serial number ending in a star (★) within specific ranges (e.g., B00000001★ - B00250000★).
You will be able to swap your old notes for new ones
The Bank of England has announced it will begin circulating bank notes with the image of King Charles III from June 5 this year, 2024.
As of 2026, there are 15 Commonwealth realms: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and the United Kingdom.
The sovereign similarly only draws from Canadian funds for support in the performance of his duties when in Canada or acting as King of Canada abroad; Canadians do not pay any money to the King or any other member of the royal family, either towards personal income or to support royal residences outside of Canada.
In North Carolina, Trump reaffirmed his stance that Canada should become the 51st state, claiming that under an American-controlled Canada, Canadians would be offered lower taxes and better health coverage.
A fifty-dollar note is also known colloquially as a "pineapple" or the "Big Pineapple" because of its yellow colour. The $100 note is currently green and is known colloquially as a “watermelon”, but between 1984 and 1996 it was grey, and was called a grey nurse (a type of shark).
$2 Bill Value
The highest value is $4,500 or more for uncirculated notes from 1890, although most of those bills range from $550 to $2,500. The values are the same whether the bill has a red or brown seal.
The current polymer note, first issued on 5 June 2024, bears the image of King Charles III on the obverse. The other note first issued on 20 February 2020, bears the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the image of painter J. M. W. Turner on the reverse.