×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Wednesday
21
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 9°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

Rare ‘golden ticket’ £5 note found in Christmas card

It's worth tens of thousands times more than its face value!

Newsroom January 3 11:56

A rare U.K. £5 note thought to be worth tens of thousands times more than its face value has been found in a Christmas card.

 

The note is one of only four engraved with an image of Jane Austen, with each featuring a quotation from one of her novels.

 

They are the work of Graham Short, a British artist specializing in miniature engravings, in a project launched by the Tony Huggins-Haig Gallery in Scotland. The notes are intended to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Austen’s death later this year.

 

Tony Huggins-Haig, speaking to CNBC via telephone, described the notes as “almost a Willy Wonka golden ticket.” He explained that the fivers – being of low monetary value – were “likely to end up in anybody’s pocket” and were also important as a means of “bringing art to people.”

 

The notes were released secretly around the U.K. in early December. Huggins-Haig said that they were spent in local businesses.

 

The latest note is the second to be found, inside a Christmas card at the end of last year. All that is known about the finder is that s/he is “somebody in education,” according to Huggins-Haig.

 

The first note turned up in a cafe in south Wales. Both finders have requested to remain anonymous, but have said that they intend to keep – rather than sell – their lucky fivers.

 

Huggins-Haig said that Short’s artwork usually retails for between £50,000 to £100,000 ($61,490 to $122,980) or more. He approximated that the notes were worth at least £20,000.

 

Anyone finding one of the engraved notes should contact the Tony Huggins-Haig Gallery.

>Related articles

Britain: New defection of a Conservative MP who defected to Farage’s party

Why Gen Z is returning to religion: what new research in the United Kingdom shows

BBC to ask US court to dismiss Trump defamation lawsuit

 

Iconic nineteenth-century novelist Jane Austen is set to feature more prominently on the U.K.’s currency, with her image being displayed on new £10 notes put into circulation in the summer of this year.

Source

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#Jane Austen#UK
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Thirio: Thomas Matsas’ new restaurant

January 21, 2026

German exports to the US down by 9.4% in the first eleven months of 2025

January 21, 2026

Trump unveils a file of “achievements” as he floats Venezuela move and claims peace successes

January 20, 2026

Generation X: The ‘contemporaries’ of PASOK, MTV, fast food, ONE, the drachma, the Euro, and adaptability to change

January 20, 2026

Pierrakakis: ‘We cannot face enormous geopolitical challenges and delay important institutional decisions’

January 20, 2026

Political dialogue between Greece-Türkiye: Bilateral relations at the centre of today’s meeting

January 20, 2026

European Parliament freezes ratification of the EU–US trade agreement

January 20, 2026

Extremely dangerous rainfall tomorrow and schools closed in Attica: The 7 areas set to receive large volumes of rain – see maps

January 20, 2026
All News

> Culture

Tatoi Estate: The rescue and restoration of 100,000 historic objects

Among them are ornate carriages, luxury automobiles, furniture, works of art, and extremely valuable garments

January 19, 2026

The historic cafes of Athens: 12 legendary hangouts lost to time

January 16, 2026

Actress Melpo Zarokosta dies at 93

January 16, 2026

Cycladic Identity Initiative launches fourth funding phase to preserve the Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Cyclades

January 16, 2026

Grief in Crete for the loss of Yannis Xylouris

January 15, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα