Harry Kane could be bringing more than football home…

As England heads into the semi-finals, the Golden Boot looks like it could be a fit for captain Harry Kane, but football might not be the only thing that’s coming home if we make it through to the finals…

Eleven special £5 notes, engraved with a tiny portrait of footballer Harry Kane, will be put into circulation if England reach the World Cup final. And each banknote could be worth more than £20,000!

 

England captain Harry Kane. Credit: bbc.co.uk

 

Specialist micro-engraver Graham Short has been using fine needles to carefully etch Kane’s portrait on the ‘clear section’ of the polymer £5 notes to celebrate the success of the England Football team.

But they will only be put into circulation if England beat Croatia during Wednesday’s semi-final match… So if you’re not already into the football, here’s another reason to back the England team!

Each note has taken six days to complete and they will be distributed by Mr Short in Norwich and the Midlands, Sheffield, Manchester and North Yorkshire as he makes his way around the country.

You may remember our previous blog detailing some of Mr Shorts other work which featured a micro-engraving of Jane Austen on the Polymer banknotes of which there is still one left to find.

Eagle eyed collectors have been hunting down this final note and will be excited to hear about the Harry Kane designs, should they be released.

 

Jane Austen etched onto polymer banknote. Credit: BBC Scotland Twitter

 

According to Gallery owner Mr Huggins-Haig, artist Graham Short’s work has an insurance valuation of £50,000 so £20,000 for a banknote with his artwork on as a reasonable estimate. Mr Short’s last work, a portrait of the Queen on a pinhead, sold for £100,000.

As before, anyone who finds one of the notes has been advised to contact the Tony Huggins-Haig Gallery in Kelso, which launched the project as they will provide advice on how to put the artwork up for auction.


Royal Mint re-date coin for England fans…

To celebrate England’s on-going success, The Royal Mint has issued a special release that is only available to purchase for four weeks – the UK 2018 Lion of England £5 BU pack.

This is definitely one for the collector. Not on the original scheduled release list, the coin features the Lion of England with a special 2018 striking date – a rare occurrence and one that will make this coin hugely collectable to not only football fans but sharp-eyed collectors.

Make sure to secure your 2018 Lion of England £5 coin today >>

Here’s where you can find the new Jane Austen Polymer £10 note…

LEEDS

HSBC: 33 Park Row, LS1 1LD

YORKSHIRE BANK: 94-96 Briggate, LS1 6NP

CARDTRONICS: Rawdon Newsagents, 11 Harrogate Road, LS19 6HW

LIVERPOOL

SANTANDER: 45 Lord Street, L2 6PB

NEWCASTLE

SANTANDER: 112-118 Northumberland Street, NE1 7DG

BIRMINGHAM

HSBC: 130 New Street, B2 4JU

NATWEST: Grand Central, B2 4BF

LLOYDS: 36-38 New Street, B2 4EG

BARCLAYS: 79-84 High Street, B4 7TE

MANCHESTER

NOTE MACHINE: Lowry Outlet Mall, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AP

NATWEST: 1 Spinningfields, M3 3AP

BARCLAYS: 17 St Ann’s Square, M2 7PW

LONDON

NOTE MACHINE: Barry’s Food and Wine, 149 Hoxton Street, N1 6PJ

SANTANDER: 48-54 Moorgate, EC2R 6EJ & 164-167 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7JE & 2 Triton Square, Regents Place, NW1 3AN

POST OFFICE: 26/28 The Broadway, E15 4QS

BARCLAYS: 46-48 Regent Street, Piccadilly, W18 5RA

HSBC: 165 Fleet Street, EC4A 2DY

NATIONWIDE: 1 Threadneedle Street, EC2r 8BP

NATWEST: 10 Southwark Street, SE1 1TJ

LLOYDS: 33 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1HZ

BASINGSTOKE

NATWEST: 3 London Street, RG21 7NS

WINCHESTER

SANTANDER: 119 High Street, SO23 9AS

NATWEST: 105 High Street, SO23 9AW

BATH

NOTE MACHINE : Eurochange Bath, 6 Southgate Street

HSBC: 45 Milsom Street, BA1 1DU

NATWEST: 15-17 High Street, BA1 5AH

CARDIFF

LLOYDS: 31 Queens Street, CF10 2AG

SWINDON

NATIONWIDE: Nationwide House, Pipers Way, SN3 1TX