The UK national currency

Wellington

New Zealand's capital has much to offer new residents and immigrants. It is a beautiful harbour city surrounded by the hills of Wellington's Town Belt — a reserve enriching the city.

Wellington is the world's most southern capital. It was named after the first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, the British General and statesman who was the British Prime Minister (1828 — 1830). It is also named "the Top Town" of the country, rated the best place to live of all the country cities.

Wellington is also the most important cultural, commercial and cosmopolitan center of New Zealand, the country government's seat.In population Wellington is the second largest city after Auckland (over 165 thousand).

The list of the capital's attractions includes the National Art Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, the National Cricket Museum and the Museum of New Zealand "Te Pa" or the Te Papa Museum ("Te Papa" in Maori means "our place") — one of the most ambitious eclectic museums in the world, that houses invaluable collections of the arts and artefacts of the country, its history, present and envisioned future.

If you are interested in the country fauna, you would visit the Wellington's Zoo.

Great Britain did not join the new monetary system of the EU countries, but retained its own one. Up to 1971 the UK monetary system was rather complex. The Britons had pounds, shillings, pence and a lot of various coins. Due to the latest rational reform this system became rather simple.

Today the national currency of the United Kingdom is the GBP (£ — the British Pound sterling) that equals 100 new pence.

The British banknotes are issued by the main bank of the state, the Bank of England, in the following denominations: £ 5, £ 10, £ 20 and £ 50. One pound notes were withdrawn from circulation some years ago.

In slang words a one pound banknote is called "a quid", a five pound note — "a fiver" and a ten pound note — "a tener".

The modern British banknotes of various denominations have a set of special security elements: micro printing, watermarks, various threads and some others.

The front of the UK pounds features traditional for the British currency portraits of the British Queen Elizabeth II and the medallion "Britannia". The banknotes' back has the portraits of the nation's distinguished people: public figures, scientists, artists, writers, as well as the episodes describing their activities. The 5, 10 and 20 pound notes are issued in several variants that slightly differ in colour, some features and their texts.

At present, the following banknotes, both of the latest and some previous samples, are in circulation in the UK:

The £ 5 note features on its reverse the famous inventor George Stephenson, his locomotive and the railway bridge. The other variant — a banknote featuring Elizabeth Fry, a well — known fighter for the prison reforms.

The£ 10 note features Charles Dickens, a famous English novelist, and a scene of playing croquet. The other variant — a banknote featuring Charles Darwin.

The £ 20 note features Sir Edward Elgar and the scene of a lecture in the Royal Society. The other variant — a banknote featuring Michael Faraday, an outstanding English physicist.

The £ 50 note features Sir John Houblon, the first President of the Bank of England, and his house in the Threadnecdle street.

Although some British banknotes were withdrawn from circulation or replaced by the new ones in 2002 and 2003, they still remain payable at their face value for some period.

The British coins are minted in the following denominations: a halfpenny, a penny, 2,5, 10 and 50 pence, £ 1 and £ 2. On their obverse the coins have various portraits of the British Queen. The reverse of the British coins features the Crown and some other elements of the British monarchy, depending on the year of their issue: the King's Coat of Arms or lions; the thistle's flower or ostrich feathers; the Celtic Cross, blossoming flax or a leek.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29