The Bank of England unveiled the new £10 polymer note, which features a portrait of Jane Austen, at Winchester Cathedral today.

2017 marks the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death. She is buried at the Winchester Cathedral.

The new note goes into circulation on 14^th September. Vaultex will play an important part in introducing the note while removing the old one from circulation by Spring 2018. The Bank of England will give at least three months’ notice prior to the withdrawal date.

The new note includes a tactile feature to help blind and partially sighted people identify its value. The polymer £20, due to launch in 2020, will also include a tactile feature, which was developed in conjunction with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Polymer notes are cleaner, more secure and longer lasting than paper cotton notes. Polymer notes use enhanced security features to make them harder to counterfeit and are expected to last at least 2.5 times longer than paper cotton notes.

Victoria Cleland, the Bank’s chief cashier, said: “The new £10 note marks the next exciting step in our introduction of cleaner, safer, stronger polymer banknotes, and I am grateful to the cash industry for their work towards a smooth transition.”