Jane Austen fiver worth £50k discovered in Scots Christmas card

THE second of four rare plastic £5 notes which feature a micro-engraved portrait of Jane Austen has been discovered inside a Christmas card in Scotland.
Each image of the Pride and Prejudice author is surrounded by a unique quote from some of Austens most celebrated novels. Picture: SWNSEach image of the Pride and Prejudice author is surrounded by a unique quote from some of Austens most celebrated novels. Picture: SWNS
Each image of the Pride and Prejudice author is surrounded by a unique quote from some of Austens most celebrated novels. Picture: SWNS

The new owner, who is reported to be based in the Scottish Borders, wants to remain anonymous and has decided to keep the note, frame it and hang it on their wall.

They received the note in a Christmas card from a relative in the same area, who thought they were including an ordinary £5.

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The Tony Huggins-Haig Gallery in Kelso, in the Scottish Borders, launched the project with specialist micro-engraver Graham Short creating the mini artworks.

The four five pound notes on which micro-engraver Graham Short has drawn a portrait of Jane Austen. Picture: SWNSThe four five pound notes on which micro-engraver Graham Short has drawn a portrait of Jane Austen. Picture: SWNS
The four five pound notes on which micro-engraver Graham Short has drawn a portrait of Jane Austen. Picture: SWNS
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The note, discovered on Thursday, is the second of the four Bank of England notes to be found after one was handed over in change from a cafe in south Wales earlier this month.

Two more special £5 notes, spent in England and Northern Ireland, remain in general circulation and their serial numbers are AM32 885552 and AM32 885554.

Mr Huggins-Haig said the latest finder, who works in education, wants to remain anonymous but has been to the gallery to have the note verified.

The four five pound notes on which micro-engraver Graham Short has drawn a portrait of Jane Austen. Picture: SWNSThe four five pound notes on which micro-engraver Graham Short has drawn a portrait of Jane Austen. Picture: SWNS
The four five pound notes on which micro-engraver Graham Short has drawn a portrait of Jane Austen. Picture: SWNS

He said: “They are completely delighted to have it and it’s getting framed and going on the wall.

“They were given it in a Christmas card by a relative and they are delighted as well because they didn’t know that’s what they were putting in the card - they knew it was a £5 but not one that could be worth £50,000.

“Of the two that have been found, both are with people who want to keep them as art. They’ve both been found by wonderful people who are very deserving.

“We’ve let the £5 notes go out there and it’s been brilliantly received by people.”

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He said the project has generated worldwide interest and he has been contacted by Russian, Chinese and Indian television companies.

Mr Huggins-Haig spent one of the notes in Granny Jean’s bakery in Kelso on December 5 to start the project, sparking a huge surge in custom when he revealed the move days later.

Head baker Alan Malone said he was “gutted” to have inadvertently given it away in change.

Mr Short’s last piece of art, a portrait of the Queen engraved on a speck of gold inside the eye of a needle, sold for £100,000.