Watch List notes:

Offered Here For Charity - Bank of England VIP tribute Twenty Pounds No. 5 note Merlyn Lowther QE II & Sir Edward Elgar B386 Series E Second Historical Series Foil Hologram & Windowed Thread issue 1999 and a First Run Low Non-circulation serial number AA01 000005, about UNC - UNC. According to Duggleby the lowest possible circulation serial number available of this Series E Historical Twenty Pounds before this offering is AA01 000031. This note from the Governor of the Bank of England in the original anti reflective museum glass frame with a note reading "From The Governor Of The / Bank of England / Note No. 5 of New Series 1999". It appears the note has not been glued in the frame and is held by precisely placed small holders with a small gap for each corner of the note to be inserted in. It has become a common tradition for the Bank of England to hold back the first printed notes with low or symbolic serial numbers when a new issue is released. Such notes are attributed to dignitaries, royalty and institutions that usually receive or were involved in the development of the new issue, for example Her Majesty the Queen traditionally receives the very first 000001 note, the Churchill War Rooms received the new Polymer Churchill 5 Pound note with the end of World War II year serial number AA01 001945, and the Winchester Cathedral received the new Polymer Jane Austen 10 Pound note with a serial number AA01 001817 marking the year that Jane Austen was buried there. A number of first run circulation serial numbers, the Bank of England is known to donate in Charity Auctions for various causes and many of these notes are very sought after by collectors and usually realise high figures as for example the very first possible circulation number of the 20 Pounds Bailey with serial number AA01 000007 realized £2,100, the first public available Churchill Polymer 5 Pounds serial number AA01 000017 realized £4,150 and the Jane Austen Polymer 10 Pounds AA01 000010 realized £7,200. In regard to this note the serial numbers prior to this one were reportedly donated as follows to H.M. the Queen, the Prime Minister, the Bank of England Governor and the Chancellor.

Estimate: 2000-4000 GBP