UK Reveals New Banknotes Fronted By King Charles III, Causing Inflation Of Jokes
Image via Penny Mordaunt
Penny wise, pound foolish? The United Kingdom has unveiled new banknotes featuring a portrait of King Charles III, marking the reign of the new monarch. The way they were announced, however, has triggered a wave of wit across the nation. It’s a reminder that in time of change—and inflation—the British sense of humor remains a constant.
It all started with a photo posted by Member of Parliament Penny Mordaunt, in which she had posed with oversized replica banknotes. While the public got the gist, it couldn’t resist making the same joke, as noted by BuzzFeed.
I'm sorry they are not going to fit in my wallet.
— Adam Knight (@BigAdamKnight) May 22, 2024
Many jested that they would have to change their wallets to accommodate the much bigger paper currency, while others suggested that cash machines in the country would also have to be replaced.
This is a terrible design, who signed off on this?!?
— inhocsignumvinces (@inhocsignu53728) May 22, 2024
These will NOT fit in my wallet https://t.co/AHWGFhkNId
Sorry these notes are clearly too big? Who has a wallet this size? Can this government do anything right? https://t.co/wsi14zmvZV
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) May 22, 2024
In this economy, the visual is rather on the nose. Brits have remarked that the bills have been engorged in relation to inflation rates.
I see how you have adjusted the physical size of the notes in line with inflation.
— Ali Hughes (@AliAliAfro) May 22, 2024
Perhaps, just perhaps, the notes aren’t gigantic but the woman in the photo is tiny.
Jokes aside, the new banknotes, set to enter circulation on June 5, 2024, will feature King Charles III but will co-circulate with the notes bearing Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait. There’s no need to exchange the current notes for the new ones—they all work, and they’re all the same size.
I bet you trousered a few while you were there.
— Howard C Hughes (@bsd_junkie) May 22, 2024
Replica bank notes usually have "SPECIMEN" stamped over them to indicate they are not authentic.
— ianVisits (@ianvisits) May 22, 2024
(what do you mean the size might be a clue?) https://t.co/5h39Jwm9gi
Now they’ve got to replace every cash machine in the country with a jumbo one https://t.co/TPQ5cI3Eqd
— Dave Calhoun (@davecalhoun) May 22, 2024
[via BuzzFeed and HuffPost UK, images via various sources]
