Should Jersey follow English banknote design?

British wildlife will replace historical figures on the next series of Bank of England banknotes - and the public will be asked which animals and birds should appear.

Jersey's own notes were last refreshed in 2010 and still feature the late Queen Elizabeth II, alongside local landmarks, while Bank of England notes bearing King Charles III entered circulation in 2024.

So, is it time for Jersey to think about a redesign of its own?

For an island where finance and farming coexist, banknotes offer a quiet but revealing snapshot of how Jersey sees itself - its culture, and its priorities.

The 1989 series showcased birds such as Dartford warblers, oystercatchers and brent geese, and the current notes include a Jersey cow watermark.

But more than a decade on, the question remains: who - or what - should appear next?

Guernsey has already made its decision. In 2024, it announced that its next notes, due from 2027, would not feature a portrait of King Charles, instead opening the door to local artists to propose fresh designs.

Jersey may eventually face a similar choice.

In a statement, Treasury and Exchequer said a public consultation is one option that could be considered for the next series of Jersey notes - though no decision has yet been made on how any future redesign would be handled.

The island explored the possibility of new notes in 2025, but Treasury says there are still large stocks of the D‑class family - the current design - in reserve.

The government held "a significant stock" of the notes, it said.

These will be used before decisions are taken on preferred designs, meaning "it is likely to be some time before any such decisions are made".

Government figures show about £93m of Jersey notes were in circulation at the end of 2025, with minimum print runs required "to achieve value for money in a smaller jurisdiction such as ours".

The Treasury said this approach avoided unnecessary costs and ensured "value is maintained on behalf of the public".

A redesign may not be imminent, but the question of what Jersey should put on its money is very much alive.

If you had the chance to choose, what deserves pride of place on the next Jersey banknote?

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