A unique artist’s design for a Royal Bank of Scotland £20 note featuring the Forth Bridges that was never issued has fetched £750 at auction.
The “printer’s essay” was for a proposed issue of £20, and featured the serial number A/1 000000.
Dated 1 January 1971, it would have kept the image of the Forth Bridges from the previous issue instead of the view of Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran that appeared on the final version in 1972 and ran until 1981.
The “unique and special” lot went under the hammer at Noonans auctioneers where, despite international interest, it was bought by a rare notes collector in the UK.
Ted Edmunds, banknote specialist at Noonans, said: “The design for the front – with the coat of arms – did go on to become that series in the 1970s and 80s, but the reverse was rejected.
“The Royal Bank of Scotland decided to go with castles instead, and the note that was actually issued showed a view of Brodick Castle.
“For collectors of Scottish banknotes this is very unusual to see, because it’s not the expected design on the reverse, making it unique and special. We had interest from the UK and abroad.”
