<P> Fifty pound notes were introduced by the Bank of England for the first time in 1725 . The earliest notes were handwritten and were issued as needed to individuals . These notes were written on one side only and bore the name of the payee , the date , and the signature of the issuing cashier . With the exception of the Restriction Period between 1797 and 1821 , when the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars caused a bullion shortage , these notes could be exchanged in full , or in part , for an equivalent amount of gold when presented at the bank . If redeemed in part , the banknote would be signed to indicate the amount that had been redeemed . From 1853 printed notes replaced handwritten notes , with the declaration `` I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of fifty pounds '' replacing the name of the payee . This declaration remains on Bank of England banknotes to this day . A printed signature of one of three cashiers appeared on the printed notes , although this was replaced by the signature of the Chief Cashier from 1870 onward . </P>
<P> Fifty pound notes were introduced by the Bank of England for the first time in 1725 . The earliest notes were handwritten and were issued as needed to individuals . These notes were written on one side only and bore the name of the payee , the date , and the signature of the issuing cashier . With the exception of the Restriction Period between 1797 and 1821 , when the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars caused a bullion shortage , these notes could be exchanged in full , or in part , for an equivalent amount of gold when presented at the bank . If redeemed in part , the banknote would be signed to indicate the amount that had been redeemed . From 1853 printed notes replaced handwritten notes , with the declaration `` I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of fifty pounds '' replacing the name of the payee . This declaration remains on Bank of England banknotes to this day . A printed signature of one of three cashiers appeared on the printed notes , although this was replaced by the signature of the Chief Cashier from 1870 onward . </P>
when was the first £ 50 note issued
when was the first £ 50 note issued
1725
1725