Different Pounds

 

Contrary to what some people believe there is no such thing as the British Pound.

There are English Pounds made by the Bank of England (which are accepted in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, the Falkland Islands and Saint Helena.)

There are Scottish Pounds issued by the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank (which can be accepted in English Border Towns or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

There are Northern Irish Pounds issued by the Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank and Ulster Bank (which are only accepted in Northern Ireland and a few Irish Border Towns or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

There are Isle of Man Pounds issued by the Isle of Man Government (which are only accepted in the Isle of Man or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

There are Jersey Pounds issued by the States of Jersey (which are accepted in Jersey, sometimes in Guernsey or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

There are Guernsey Pounds issued by the States of Guernsey (which are accepted in Guernsey, sometimes in Jersey or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

There are Gibraltar Pounds issued by the Gibraltar Government (which are only accepted in Gibraltar or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

There are the Falkland Islands Pound issued by the Government of Falkland Islands (which are only accepted in the Falkland Islands or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

There are Saint Helena Pounds issued by the Government of Saint Helena (which are only accepted in Saint Helena or at any Bank in the UK for the local Pound at par.)

Only English Pounds, Gibraltar Pounds, Jersey Pounds, Guernsey Pounds, Isle of Man Pounds, Falkland Islands Pounds and Saint Helena Pounds have the British Monarch on some of the bills (not Northern Ireland or Scotland.)

Note: There are no Welsh Pounds.

You have to be careful with what Pounds you have depending on where you are. I remember being in Scotland and trying to use English Pounds in several places and got called out for it  - things got better when they learned I was American and not English.

It is much worse in Northern Ireland. When I was there I had English Pounds (for when I was in London, England) Euros (for when I was in Ireland) and the 3 different Northern Irish Pounds (for when I was in Northern Ireland.) You can’t just use English Pounds anywhere since that shows you are a Loyalist/Protestant and you can’t use Euros since that shows you are a Republican/Catholic. The same with the 3 different types of Irish Pounds by the 3 different Northern Irish Banks. Of course speaking with an American accent got me out of any kind of trouble for using the “wrong” Pound in the “wrong” Place (ie. a Protestant-Friendly Bank Pound in a Catholic Area or a Catholic-Friendly Bank Pound in a Protestant Area.)

I have all the different Pounds (as well as every Currency Bill from every Current Country and Territory and every Historical Country and Territory since 1750.)