The British currency system used the pound as the base unit, which is made up of 100 pence (usually just referred to as ‘pee’).
British coins are circulated as 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2. All coins in Scotland are issued by the Royal Mint, so their designs match coins found everywhere else in the UK.
Scottish banknotes
Scottish banknotes come in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50, and £100. A rare £1 note is also still used in circulation.
Three Scottish retail banks – the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and Clydesdale Bank – issue their own notes with their own designs.
While these Scottish notes are usually accepted throughout the United Kingdom, they’re not technically official legal tender in England or Wales. You shouldn’t have trouble using them but shops outside Scotland aren’t obligated to accept them.
Most British banks will exchange Scottish pounds for English ones free of charge. Meanwhile, you’ll have no problem using English banknotes anywhere in Scotland, so it’s always best to use your Scottish notes first!
