The central bank said on Tuesday it would ask the public its opinion before taking a decision in December on whether to adopt polymer pounds that also would be smaller than current notes.
Governor Mark Carney introduced polymer banknotes while head of the Bank of Canada in 2011 and credited the material for a sharp drop in the rate of counterfeiting.
The Bank of England has issued paper banknotes ever since the central bank was created in 1694 as a way of raising money for King William III's war against France. The first fully printed notes appeared in 1853. Before, notes were handwritten and signed by one of the bank's cashiers.
Polymer banknotes, as well as being hard to fake, are durable and stay cleaner for longer because the material is more resistant to dirt and moisture, the Bank of England said, adding feedback so far on the new-look notes had been positive. However, would it be easier to make plastic notes at home and use them in shops as forgery? This could damage the economy, as we are slowly climbing out of the crisis.
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